“Can someone tell me if there is a back way out of this building?” Maude asked the group that lingered on the sofas, watching the large television set.
When no one answered, she went directly to the set and turned the volume down all the way.
“Just so I don’t have to scream. Is there a back way out of here, and who can tell me that girl’s name, the RA? Also, does anyone know Jenny’s parents phone number?”
“Janet, Janet Fillmore. She’s new here. Just a few days ago she moved in. Just like that. Never any reason-she came in during the middle of the semester, and yes, there is another door.” One of the girls who had been playing basketball had come inside. She filled Maude in on the details about Jenny, giving her the phone number that was needed, but there was little else she could tell.
The basketball player later commented that, “Probably Fillmore was given the job of room attendant because she was older than the other girls. She never mixed with the others but most of the room attendants were that way.”
Maude took the information and summed up her thoughts. Now there were two missing young women, but one is running from something. Too many coincidences. Maude seldom believed in coincidences where the possibility of a crime was concerned.
Chapter 4
The trip to the coast from the university took about an hour, mostly narrow highway-two lanes all the way. Coastal towns were like that, the roads were never really good. Maude was driving slowly, knowing that whatever was going on with the doctor and his girlfriend had probably already happened. Not much she could do about it now. Keeping her promise to Lilly Ann, she followed the lead to the place the young women had told her about.
A Corps of Engineers bay that was a recreational draw, Edwards Bay was a natural phenomenon, a large, deep-water cove on the Gulf Coast. The best part of the bay was its calm post-tidal waters, with diverse types of salt and fresh water fish, shrimp, oysters, and other sea creatures. The salt water of the Gulf that was diluted by the influx of warm fresh canal water offered up a fresh water bounty of fishes. It was a fisherman’s paradise.
There were few places for rent on the bay, but Lilly Ann had a friend whose grandparents were more than eager to have a house guest, accepting the out-of-towner at face value. Maude unloaded her meager suitcase from the pick-up, and met the residents, both of them smiling their welcome to her. Andrea and Barry Tyler were one of those couples that you read about, the beautiful woman and the ugly man who made a life for themselves.
The Tylers were near sixty years old, within Maude’s age range, and seemed a little surprised to find that she was still employed. They had been retired for at least five years, moving to the coast after selling their home in Houston for a good price. Big Bear, a nickname for Barry, was a retired oil man who made his fortune and got out before the wells all dried up in the nineties. He was jovial and large, qualities that came with the nickname.
Maude had some difficulty with calling a human ‘Big Bear’, but the man settled her worries and told her to call him Bear, a more acceptable moniker, in her opinion, for the man who offered up his home to a stranger. He said the Big part of the name came in the sixties, when he lifted weights, and did some wrestling, for he was quite large and muscular at the time. Bear said that his fans put the name on him, and it stuck. Back then, it seemed that all his friends were called some name other than the one their parents had given them.
The Tyler home was located near Edwards Bay; in fact it was about a half-mile from the resort where Aaron Dennis had a reservation. The room the couple offered was medium sized, with a very good bed. Maude slept like a rock that first night.
It was eight o’clock in the morning, on Tuesday. The doctor and his girlfriend had been gone for five nights and four days. Maude put her tennis shoes on for walking, and possibly getting wet then made her excuses to Andrea. Bear was watching a news program, and didn’t hear the conversation, but appeared to be okay with whatever any one did in his home. Maude began to understand the pretty woman-ugly man relationship. Bear was a truly nice man and great host.
Andrea smiled a lot through her perfect lips that still had the cupids bow outline, with deep set blue eyes and blond hair, even near sixty, she was still a knockout, making Maude feel somewhat dowdy. But that was life; what you got from your Maker was what you lived with, or changed with surgery. Maude, for the most part had always been content with her appearance, even though there were times she wished she were more ‘womanly’.
The first stop she made as always was to the local law enforcement agency, this time it was to the County Sheriff’s office. She introduced herself to Jack Fuller and liked the man right off, something that didn’t happen much to Maude Rogers. The man was all business, but didn’t try to make himself out to be more than he was. She had found that some men in his position ‘put on airs’, pretending that they were all powerful and expected the rest of the world to cow-tow to them.
Jack was not that way at all, rather, he was a self-deprecating man, always on top of his business, yet willing to credit others with the jobs they had done. To Maude, that made him a much more powerful man.
When Jack first saw Maude coming into his office he looked her over, liking what he saw. She was a tall woman, thin but not shapeless, with a grayish blond mop of curls, an interesting color as far as he knew about women’s hair. Bright blue, intelligent eyes and the beginning of a small grin told him she was taking his measure; a good looking woman, no doubt, and a cautious one. It wouldn’t do to underestimate her.
“What can I do for you?” Jack asked, standing and offering his hand. “Name is Jack Fuller, sheriff around these parts.”
“Maude Rogers, homicide detective visiting your county. I’m trying to do a favor for my niece over at the medical school. Much obliged for seeing me.
“What might that favor be, and how can I help you? I’m getting ready to leave my office as soon as some men call me with the arrangements. I can give you a few minutes. Have a seat, Ms. Rogers. Mind if I see that shield of yours?”
“Just Maude, will do. A least that’s what my friends call me. And of course,” she said, handing over the leather case containing her work identification.”
“Then by all means, Maude, tell me what I can do for you,” the sheriff repeated, returning her Madison identification.
She began to tell him the story, about how her niece had approached her with the request to find her friend Aaron Dennis when the Sheriff interrupted her.
“Maude, excuse me for interrupting you, but you say this man you’re looking for is Aaron Dennis?”
“Yes, and I believe there is a young woman vacationing with him.”
“Her name would be Jenny Marx?” The Sheriff quietly asked.
“Yes, do you have information about these two? My niece is worried and so are a few others at the university. Seems these two decided to spend some time around your county over at the Edwards Resort.”
“Maude, how would you feel about a helicopter ride this morning?” Jack wasn’t accustomed to making those kinds of offers and he wondered why the invitation had slipped out of his mouth. His wife Helen told him that it was the Lord working in him when he made a gesture of goodness to another human being. Jack didn’t know if that was true, but once said, he would not draw back from his words. As far as it being a gesture of goodness, Jack had a feeling there was going to be nothing good about the trip they would be taking.
“My deputy will be taking a boat across Edwards Bay, and I intend to fly over it, searching for the man you’re looking for. Aaron Dennis rented a boat yesterday, and hasn’t been heard from since; got that woman with him. We looked last night along the beach; both sides of the cove, no foot traffic, but headlamps. Took out the copter around nine last night, but the tide was in, and flooded the whole area. It was too dark to see much. We’re going back today to take a long look at the land around there, to see what the daylight shows us.”
“I’d be pleased to ride along, haven’t b
een up in a whirly bird this year. I hope we find those two shivering and cold, but well. Still, all this hasn’t set right with me since I found out about it. I fear the worst, but I’m not speculating what that might be.”
“Me too,” Jack volunteered. “Don’t like how it’s set up.”
The helicopter arrived within ten minutes, and the two law enforcement officers boarded the craft, buckling in and picking a window they could look out. The pilot worked for the Corps of Engineers, and had been loaned to the sheriff for the day, a courtesy offered because of their connection to Edwards Bay and the surrounding land.
“Mighty nice, having a helicopter to help out.” Maude said, glancing admiringly at the prop at the fast turning prop.”
“Yeah, not the first time I’ve been in this bird.” Jack said. “That bay can be treacherous in places. People drown out there, not expecting it to be so deep. The north shoreline is a no place for amateur boaters, but they try it anyway. Many a person has lost his boat from slamming against the rocks.
“I do hope this is a simple case.” Maude said to herself. “Thank you for including me in the search, Sheriff. I am obliged to you.”
The helicopter made it a smooth, short trip to the cove, circling over the resort and the houses on the south peninsula. The water below was sparkling in the sunlight, the shoreline covered with the prized back yards of the residents fortunate enough to live there.
“Those houses are way out of my pay-grade,” she remarked to the sheriff. “I’m staying with some folks live a little ways from the water. The Tylers, Barry and Andrea. Their granddaughter is friends with my niece. They’re putting me up for a day or two.”
“Good folks. I know them.” Sheriff Jack offered. “See them around.”
The pleasantries over for the moment, Maude began looking out the window again as the helicopter moved away from the south shore, and began a sweep along the north side. She stared at the wild beauty of the Gulf beating against the rocky end of the bay, the low cliffs above it dark, and somehow forbidding. She caught a glimpse of a small building tucked away near the edge of the cliff line.
“What is that place?” she asked over the noise of the helicopters engine. “Looks deserted.”
“No, not deserted. Old man lives there. Most people think he’s a nut case.” Jack replied, his breath close to Maude’s ear. “Stays by himself except when his grandson comes to visit. Boy’s daddy drops him off and picks him back up the same day. Flies in from Alvin, doesn’t stay and visit. The old man used to be rich; some say he left it all to his son. He moved here about five years ago, a real eccentric.”
The noise of the helicopter was hard to talk over, so the two settled back quietly, watching below for signs of people on the ground.
“Fly over that inlet,” Jack told the pilot, “my oyster hidey-hole.”
The ground grew closer as the bird circled lower and lower, running along the banks of the inlet.
“Something’s down there.” the pilot offered. “Let me go back over.”
“Definitely something there, see if you can find a landing spot.” Jack said, after they circled again. From the air he could see some spots of color and bulk.
“No luck. Have to go further back, maybe walk a ways.” The pilot said. “Too many rocks and puddles of tide water close in.”
“Okay, get as close as you can. The lad and I will hike over there.”
“You ready Maude?” Sheriff Jack asked.
“Yes sir, I have my walking shoes on.” She was almost flippant, trying to cover her gut response to what she believed she had seen on the ground. “Snakes out here?”
“Rattlers, centipedes, some water snakes; some as long as you are; you’ll want to watch your step.” Jack said.
“Wish I had a big stick. Maybe I’ll look for some driftwood.” She said, worriedly. “I don’t like snakes.”
“How far do you think we’ll have to walk?” They both asked the pilot.
“I believe I can put it down right here.” The pilot answered, locating a flat open spot about a hundred yards from their destination.
The arthritis in Maude’s knees had started acting up from the tight seats in the helicopter, squeezing her against the back of the pilot’s chair. She reached in her pocket, and removed the small vial that held several ibuprofen. Popping two she offered the container to Sheriff Jack. “Care to partake?”
Jack shook his head, “No, I loaded up before we left the office. But you go ahead. There’s a water bottle in the side pocket, might want to take it with you.”
“Much obliged. I’ll be okay-part of my life, arthritis-family thing.”
The door opened as the blade on the machine stopped turning. Both law enforcement officers stepped out and looked around at the tall marsh grass outside the circle, where the craft had landed.
“I’ll wait here for you.” The pilot said softly, the engine finally quiet on the helicopter. “I think I’ll take a nap while you’re gone. Wake me when you get back.”
“Sorry,” the sheriff said. “But I need you to head back to the office, and pick up the crime scene crew. There’ll be some coming by boat, but I need the first one’s out here as soon as possible. I had hoped we wouldn’t find anything, but my hope is not to be realized. Wonder if you’ll call my deputy, direct him over here, down the inlet. Here’s his number.”
“Sure, what’s his name?” The pilot asked, pulling out his cell phone, getting ready to depart.
“Ernest.” Sheriff Jack replied, getting his land legs back after a minute.
“I met a man named Ernest not too long ago,” Maude said, taking a first step into the high grass, “down at Buena Vista, a deputy, a good man.”
“Sounds like the same man. He came from Buena Vista after the sheriff elections-didn’t like his new boss putting him to work in the jail.”
“Well he’s a good man, Jack. I’d work with Ernest anytime.”
“Meanwhile, we got a little bit of a walk.” Jack said, hating the idea of getting his boots muddy along the banks of the channel. “The tide has come and gone, there’s standing water up here along the edge. We have a while before it comes again. Let’s get it done.”
The sound of a small boat engine came to Maude from across the bay; she figured it was Ernest on his way. She hoped to witness the look of surprise on his face when he saw her. She chuckled, remembering the trip they had made together with her partner, Joe Allen.
The distance from the helicopter to the sight was a short hike; the cold air unpleasant, but not unbearable. Overnight a northern weather front had moved in along the coast, bringing brisk winds but clear skies for most of the day. The morning was almost gone, and the sun was bright, drying the ground a little, preparing once again for the tides that would come later.
As the location came into view, Maude’s eyes fastened upon a flag of indistinct origin attached to the thorns of the lone huisache tree. The force of the freshened wind moved the flag back and forth, drab-hued against the tree’s last yellow blooms. A few yards later brought her close enough to see that flag was a wad of blonde, blood-stained hair, and interspersed among the individual strands, dozens of small coastal ants were busy loading, and carrying away tiny pieces of flesh.
A closer inspection identified a jagged circle of human scalp still attached to the hair strands. The wad of hair had been cut around then ripped away from the back of a young woman’s head.
Beneath the scrawny tree in odd positions were two bodies, a male and female. The female was naked, her injuries at first unnoticed because of the silt residue from the tide. Lengths of grass and other weeds were on her body, and a thin layer of mud had coated two wounds on her chest. A large gouge was in her solar plexus, and another similar one was near the ribcage; the skin on her back and shoulders was bruised and torn in several small areas.
An array of ants had found the blood inside the wounds, and were feasting, and carrying it away. A tiny fish washed ashore in the tide had been trapped in the
marsh grass, and lay dead beside the woman, its body also covered in insects.
“Somehow, all that makes it seem worse, doesn’t it?” Maude reflected, easing herself to the ground beside the victim. “The insects at her body-seems more terrible-even though the poor thing can’t feel it.”
“Take a look, Maude, the way her hands are clenched. Maybe she kept something from the killer.” Sheriff Jack remarked, making his way to the other body that was lying in the grass, the victim’s outer shirt pulled up over his head, washed there or placed there by the killer.
“Let me get my gloves on, I’ll see. Nothing here that hasn’t been contaminated by the tide, except maybe she scratched the killer and there’s some skin under the nails. Want me to take the samples or wait for the lab techs.”
“She can wait. Not going anywhere. See anything under that blanket? Find what might have killed her?” Jack asked over his shoulder, looking Aaron Dennis’s body over. “This fellow has a hole in his head, fact is, looks like a couple of them. Beaten pretty badly, too.”
“Looks like whoever killed this girl took it personally. Cutting her hair off like that. Darndest thing. Why would anyone do that?”
“Must have been surprised, maybe lying back in the sun, enjoying the vacation. Blew his brains out. Sorry state, the tide and all, fooling with the evidence.” Jack paused a minute, catching his breath. “Been dead a few hours, at least long enough for rigor to set up, he’s stiff as board.”
Maude looked sharply at Jack, to see if he was having a small joke to break the tension, but the sheriff looked very serious. “Her too,” she said. “Whoever killed this girl really enjoyed it. I found her polo shirt wadded and muddy. Either she had already pulled it off, or he did it when he jumped her. He stabbed her with something big, maybe a knife, cut her at least twice. Evidence shows she was still alive when he cut her scalp off. Lot of blood ran down that little tree. I hope she fought him hard, got some of his skin. Savages, that’s what kind of murderers we have now.”
Murder on Edwards Bay (The Maude Rogers Crime Novels Book 2) Page 4