Murder Mysteries #3

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  9 pm.

  It was deathly quiet when it became full darkness. Dan's patrol car was parked out of sight, but cleverly hidden to give the impression someone was inside watching Sam's house. It reality, Sam was in his car dressed in all black with camo black on his face and hands. He too had a shotgun in addition to his sidearm. He was parked in a neighbor's driveway about four houses up from Sam's house. The nice neighbor had left to visit a relative giving total freedom to the police to use whatever they wanted. One thing they did, just in case, was to leave the patrol car locked as the killer might think it was a decoy to scare him off.

  At midnight Phil Matrix of Dufur, Oregon drove up to Bandon from the south on Highway 101. Like Dan, he too was dressed in all black with black camo paint on his face and hands. If you were to ask him how he felt, he'd say just fine as this was just another work day for him. Taking a life meant no more than stepping on a spider for him. Simply put it was just a job like when he was a soldier in Asia. He was told by his boss to go out and kill the bad guys with a super sniper rifle. He'd done that so well they'd given him a medal.

  At around 1 am on a cool June night, Phil drove into Bandon from the Beach Loop Road. He parked on the hill overlooking the jetty about a 1/8 mile from Smiling Sam's house. Phil even had on some scent disguise so as not to let a dog catch his scent and start barking. He moved with stealth towards his eye witness that needed silencing.

  He'd not gone far when he saw the Bandon Police Car sitting with the lights out about four blocks from the victims house. Phil spent the next five minutes watching it seeing no movement from within or from anywhere around it. He thought it was just a façade to make him think a policeman was watching Sam's house. He moved on keeping to the shadows at all times.

  From his hiding place Dan saw movement pass the patrol car. It was only a glimpse but he quietly called Stacy to alert her. She in turn used the communication radio to call Sam's ear plug. He was wide awake. "Sam, Dan saw movement and thinks the perp is on his way to your house as we speak. Good luck," said Stacy.

  Sam wiggled his butt to get the blood flowing. He did a few finger and wrist exercises to loosen his arthritic hands up. The TV remote was in his shirt pocket and the shotgun was resting across the arm rests of the chair. A dim night lite next to the bed gave a vague outline of the room. On the bed all that could be seen was a lump running from pillow downward. Sam was ready with the safety off of his double barrel shotgun.

  Phil waited in the shadows as a lone car drove by coming up the hill from Old Town. It was full of kids laughing with the windows down. Phil calmly waited until it was a long ways past before he stepped lightly onto the wooden porch. He saw Sam's chair where he sat watching the jetty every day. He also saw on old door knob and lock that was a piece of cake to open. Each step he took was careful to not make a squeaking wood noise. Phil was a pro and he smiled inwardly as he reached the door without a sound being heard.

  With ease he unlocked the door. Next he slowly opened the door from a squatting position with his keen ears on alert. Phil heard nothing but the slight roar of the ocean that was a constant companion of all the locals. He stood up and stepped inside and closed the door. Phil saw the bedroom door open a crack with a night light on for the aged to find their way to the bathroom at night.

  With practiced stealth he walked to the bedroom door and peered in through the small opening. From that position he could see nothing. With a steady hand he slowly opened the door revealing a sleeping person in a single bed against the far wall. A table lamp sat on a night stand. The other corners of the room were in darkness. Phil took a few steps with care towards the bed with his silenced pistol in hand hanging down from his leg. Just as he arrived at about six feet from the bed, he raised his pistol up and fired two quick shots into the sleeping mannequin. At that time the TV flashed on with sound in the opposite corner from Sam.

  Almost quicker than the eye could follow, Phil turned around putting a couple shots into the blaring TV. It was then Sam pointed the shotgun at Phil letting go with both barrels knocking the killer for hire into the far corner of the bedroom. In Sam's mind there was not a doubt in hell that he was dead. However, Sam quickly ejected the two empties and loaded two more just in case.

  With the bed between him and the contract killer, Sam moved over with caution to star at the body lying in the corner. Sam could see he was dead. He let out a breath wondering when he'd remembered the last time to breathe. Just to be on the super cautious side, Sam backed to the door and flipped on the bedroom light just as Dan came through the front door with his shotgun at the ready. Sam kept his shotgun pointed at the dead man while Dan checked to make absolutely sure he was expired. Dan turned and nodded his head.

  Sam spoke into the small mike and said, "Stacy, I'm holding an open house, bring the spirits please."

  Stacy and Rory were driving like hell to Sam's house when she replied, "We're coming but the stores are all closed Sam. Are you okay?"

  "Never better Stacy. Scratch one killer for hire."

  Dan took Sam's shotgun and laid it on the bed next to the shot up mannequin. It was then Sam started shaking all over. Dan quickly brought the chair over for him to sit down in. It was about ten minutes before he quit shaking from the severe adrenalin rush he'd just experienced.

  Stacy and Rory came in just as he was coming back to his normal jovial self. Stacy said, after checking out the dead Phil Matrix, "Good job Sam. We can close the book on this guy."

  No Close book Just Yet.

  It was later that same day when Rory received a phone call from Portland saying a Mr. Roy Blissful from Florence wanted to speak to him. Also, the spokes person said, "A Mr. Victor Stromer and a June Windowmere were found murdered in an apartment. Apparently the staff of where Attorney Stromer worked became concerned when he didn't show up for work as usual. They sent a runner over to the apartment and that's when he and his friend were found shot to death in the kitchen."

  Rory relayed the message to Stacy and Ben. Then he called Roy Blissful in Florence. Roy said, "I can't talk well on the phone detective, but I must speak to you in private. If possible let's meet in Reedsport this evening."

  "I can do that Mr. Blissful. Let's say 7 pm at the Umpqua Restauant where the highway forks inland."

  "I know the place. I'll see you then."

  "I'm bushed Super Sleuth. However, we've a job to do and as it's getting on into the evening, Let's drive up to Coos Bay for dinner and then to meet one of the group of five from Florence," said Rory. Ben and Stacy both nodded their tired heads.

  It been a long night and they'd been up for more than 24 hours. But they were young and full of energy. Ben took off for home and said he'd meet them in Coos Bay after they'd eaten. His family needed him to see that he was fine after the event in Bandon. Dr. Stone and her team had arrived around 3 am. It was after 6 am before the scene was secure.

  They all went to breakfast to talk about the well laid plan to capture or kill the murderer of who knows how many victims. Marsha said, "Stacy, Rory and Ben you've done a great job stopping this killer. Sam, you're amazing and somebody should write a book about your life. When this news hit the air, you'll be swamped with interviews and possibly national TV. Maybe even Good Morning America?"

  They all laughed and ate heartily when the food came. Ben went home and before they wrote up reports, both Stacy and Rory went her house for a nap. Well, that was the intention, but they will admit that they'd no sleep for the last 24 plus hours.

  Reedsport Umpqua Restaurant

  Roy Blissful was an unassuming man that would never be recognized walking down any street as someone special. However, he was very wealthy and he'd like to think a good family man who went to church regularly. He said, after the introductions out of the way, "I didn't want any part of the plan to assassinate the mayor. I voted against it in my mind, but went along with it by a show of hands. Now I want to regain some peace of mind. Arnie Lever used the lawyer in Eugene, Rick trumpet to obtain a co
ntract to murder the mayor. I'll testify and if needed, a witness protection plan be put in affect for me and my family. I'm willing to make a statement and sign it anytime."

  "I believe we can what you ask Mr. Blissful. I'll talk to the higher powers and make sure nobody gets wind of this admission. As a matter of fact, if your wife can drive, she and other members of your family should come to Coos Bay or we can put you up in Roseburg for safe keeping in a motel under an assumed name," said Rory.

  "I think we're okay for now, but tomorrow I'll make vacation arrangements as we normal go somewhere in June anyway. We'll stay in Sweet Home at a friends house we know. None of the other members of my group know about him or his family in Sweet Home. I'll call you tomorrow. Now I must go home."

  Lawyer Vic Solved his Gambling Problem

  On the way back to Coos Bay Stacy and Rory talked about both the Florence case and the murder of Vic Stromer. "You know Rory, can you guess who put out the contract on Vic," asked Stacy.

  "I guess you're sure it was a contract hit huh?"

  "What else could it be? Robbery? Nope, nothing was taken and both were shot with a small caliber in the head. I'm positive our contract killer did the deed. But who hired the guy?"

  "Beats me Super. You think you know?"

  "Yup, I'd bet my last dollar that Elisa Stromer's father or parents put out the contract on him. And furthermore, when we talk to them I think we can nail the broker of the contracts."

  "I guess that is why I call you Super Sleuth," said Rory giving Stacy a squeeze on the firm thigh.

  Here Come the US Marshalls

  Two days later, Stacy and Rory sat together having just finished writing all the reports of the Sea Stack case. Chief Foreham came into her office and sat down asking if he might have a few minutes of their valuable time. Stacy sat back and focused on her father.

  "You might find this rather strange Stacy, but I got a call from the Justice Department inquiring about my super detective daughter Stacy Foreham. It would seem the Justice Department would like to have you join the US Marshall Program with an office in Eugene or in Coos Bay. They've not decided yet where. He told me a lot of that depended on your answer to join their team or stay where you are."

  Stacy was more than shocked hearing the request. But she quickly replied, "That's something I would need to think about and of course to learn more about. I like living here with you father. I'm not sure I'm ready to move on. And naturally there's my Tall Man to think about too."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Murder Aboard the Charter Boat

  Contemplation

  There were two things Detective Stacy Foreham was seriously thinking about on a late July morning in her office located in Bandon, Oregon's New Town. The Old Town, rebuilt after the mid 1930s fire that destroyed the entire town, lacked any room to grow but uphill to a flat area, or plateau, which stretched to the Pacific Ocean to the west and south to Port Orford. In-between sat hundreds of acres of cranberry bogs and myrtle wood factories for tourists.

  In Old Town, which borders the Coquille River, has a harbor and next to the harbor is a jetty where by protecting sea going boats and ships entering or leaving across the bar to the Pacific Ocean. One of the main tourist attractions is the deep sea fishing business. The main charter service is Rod and Reel Charter Service. They're the oldest and most respected deep sea fishing charter service in the entire region.

  One of the two things Stacy was considering was the offer of joining the US Marshall Service. Her first round of talks ended in a stalemate. The second thing she was concerned about was her father, who was Bandon's Chief of Police and had been for over twenty years. He was on the verge of retiring and what is fairly typical of older folks: unable to make a positive decision about their lives. He'd built a wood shop to make myrtle wood furniture. He loved it and Stacy thought he'd enjoy doing it full time.

  As a side concern was her relationship with Rory Caltex, a detective for the Oregon State Police stationed not far away in North Bend near the airport. There was nothing monumental facing her about the relationship, but with her just in her mid twenties and only a few years out of the university, felt she possibly needed more time to let the relationship develop.

  Stacy drank her tea thinking further, ironically, that many women her age should have the tough decisions she had to make in front of them. She flashed back on the first homicide case at the local golf course to the last case involving a contract killer. All of their homicides in the last two years had been solved or a satisfactory ending resulted. With her father getting on in years, maybe it was time to consider moving on where her degree in criminology would be better put to the test.

  However, it was summer now and time to enjoy a few warm days on the southern coast of Oregon.

  The Portland Hi-tech Firm

  "But Mr. Axel, we always take a company trip for a few days to relax and recharge our systems. If you take that away from the staff, you'll be asking for a team of disgruntled employees," said David Cornfield office manager of Extell Software.

  "I'll take what you suggest under consideration David. It's not the expense, but the downtime we face by leaving our work unfinished. Let me get back to you by the end of the week. If our staff or some of them are dissatisfied, then send them down the road. There're hundreds applying everyday for a position. I'm thinking about downsizing anyway. Okay, take your leave now," said a deep voiced Lane Axel who ran the company with an iron hand. It was no secret he was disliked and detested by any and all who worked for him. That included his son-in-law Brad Igeres.

  David met Brad in the company lunch room. "How'd it go," asked Brad.

  "Not well David. He's a stubborn old coot. Guys like him are old generation thinking employees ought to grateful for just having a job. I remember my father talking about what fun it was to go on a company picnic. I don't think we're asking too much for just one day of vacation time to go deep sea fishing. We could leave here Friday, spend a night in Bandon and fish on Saturday. That would leave Sunday to come home on."

  "I'll talk to my wife about her speaking to her father about the fishing trip. Sometimes she can be persuasive where we guys are shit out of luck. That old guy needs to retire and the sooner the better. He's running this fine company into the ground with his old ideas on how to stay with or beat the competition. However, the downside is he's still a healthy old timer at 74 years young. With his wife gone all he has left is her old mangy dog. The two of them sit together at night watching old movies. God I'm sick of him," said Brad as he went back to his office.

  David shook his head while seriously thinking of finding another company to work for. He'd been here for almost ten years now. At first he did well with a good salary and stock options. But lately, his salary had remained stationary and the stock had slowly withered downhill. Yes, he thought, time to do something different. His last thought was maybe the old guy would have a fatal heart attack leaving the company to his son-in-law Brad.

  Later at afternoon break time, the staff had coffee in the lunch room. It was then that David reported the news about the fishing trip being decided this coming Friday. He heard nothing but grumbles and moans coming from the staff. Some of the snatches he heard were almost violent in nature. It was true that what few old timers remained, their income was severely taxed by stagnation and being outstripped by inflation. Jobs were hard to find and it would seem to all of the staff, Lane Axel was the major obstacle from a better life.

  Lane Axel stood at his window, hands connected behind his back, starring out at the parking lot of his company four story building with a connecting warehouse. His CFO told him just this morning that presently Extell had 249 employees. Lane remembered very well that just a few short years ago there were over 450 employees and office staff.

  He swore under his breath the crash of 2008 and the slow to non-existent recovery since then. He thought, I really need to make a major move soon before the takeover boys
come knocking on my door. Already his lawyers told him feelers had been whispered into their ears. It would seem that Silicon Valley had hit bottom and recovery was evident.

  Well, Lane, he said to self, what can a fishing trip really hurt. It can't be any worse than our daily flat line of income, but maybe we can use the trip to jump start this company once more. However, I'll think on it and then on Friday I'll make the grand announcement.

  Mad as a Hatter

  James Button, a five year veteran of Extell sat in small cubical fuming over the news that probably no fishing trip upcoming. James had never been across any bar fishing in any ocean. He'd been looking forward to the deep sea fishing trip for months. All of the staff had chipped into a fund to pay for the trip. The money was there, but the boss man had said no trip, but a final word would come this Friday.

  James was a California transplant. He'd been recruited to join Extell with an increase in his salary and stock options that were, at the time, very lucrative. Now he faced losing his home due to a high monthly mortgage. His home was worth considerably less than what he owed on it. Financially he was in a bit of trouble. If, and he thought if, Extell was taken over or under new management, the bank would see clear to refinance his entire situation. What they really needed was Lane Axel gone.