Murder Mysteries #5

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  Stacy nodded her approval and went into deep thinking as she viewed the body lying slightly curled up on the floor. His glass lay not far from his tight-fisted hand. Not far away a middle age man sat silently crying tears of remorse. He was the only party person left in the room. Stacy saw drink glasses, trays of snack foods here and there. Her last thought was this will be a real puzzler for sure. Poison wasn't hard to come by especially for a university with labs containing various plants and chemicals. From what Chief Geppart said that the vic wasn't well liked, then motive was probably spread throughout the department he worked in.

  "Dan," said Stacy, "call Ben please and I'll call Rory to come down, if he isn't busy." Stacy walked off to call Rory. He answered cheerfully saying:

  "Hey Super what's up?"

  "We've a dead body lying on the floor not far from me Tall Man. Apparently he drank something not fit for human consumption. We've a dozen suspects who were partying with him. I'm at the university and all the guests are professors. I need help interviewing please."

  "I can be there in a shade over two hours Super. I'll put the blue light on top and go like there's no tomorrow. It's vitally important that we locate a fine restaurant, as you well remember Marshall."

  "I'll send out for some tacos to tide you over. Okay enough chattering. See soon," said Stacy.

  "Honey Tex, you have to go now," asked Candy Bigsley as she cleaned off the kitchen table from their dinner dishes.

  "Yes I've to help with a homicide in Eugene. Not sure when I'll be back Candy, but I'll call when I've some idea what is going to happen. Chances are good I'll be gone a few days. Make yourself at home, as this is your home now."

  As Rory drove south from Beaverton he thought back on his first meeting Constance [Candy] Bigsley at a publisher office. Rory was on a case to discover some written evidence concerning a homicide. When he first met Candy she took his breath away with her flaming red hair, countless freckles and a smile to melt a glacier. He asked, she said yes and they took a few days to see if they had something in the way of a relationship or not. Apparently they did, as with the new Marshalls office came a new apartment in Beaverton for the happy couple. However, every time he heard Stacy's voice, he felt a sharp pain in his lower body. It was a pure fact he still loved her, but couldn't have her. Be that as it may, he thought something would develop with his new lady friend who pleased him to no end. He drove on south with his lights on bright and his flashing blue lights moving people over.

  ART

  Stacy walked back inside to interview the blubbering friend of the victim. "Excuse me sir, but could we take a moment and tell me what was happening here tonight?"

  "I'm sorry not being able to control my emotions. I'm Art Menans and was Andy's significant other. We live here. Tonight was special as Andy had just been granted tenure in the biology department. All the guests are fellow colleagues and friends. It's traditional when an associate professor makes tenure to throw a party for the department's close colleagues. It's true that resentment abounds and some close colleagues are jealous sometimes. Well, detective, it's obvious somebody really didn't like Andy. From what I observed, he died of some poison he drank or ate."

  "I'm US Marshall Stacy Foreham Art Menans. Just call me Marshall and would it be alright to refer to you as Art or would you prefer something else."

  "Art is fine Marshall. My close friends just call me Meanas."

  "Art we'll interview all guests that were here, but I was wondering if you'd have anyone in particular that ranks high on your prime suspect list?"

  Stacy saw Art giving the question some thought as he gazed at the body still lying on the floor. Stacy guided him away from the scene to the kitchen area that was empty of any people. The CSI team was a little slow tonight she thought. Finally Art said, "Andy wasn't well liked Marshall. There're two reasons. One is old retired Professor Blick claimed Andy plagiarized some written articles that were published under Andy's name. Andy denied it of course, but the rumors started flowing. Other than him I've no idea Marshall who might want him dead."

  Stacy noticed Art Meanas had regained his composure. Stacy also realized that all the suspects would be masters at critical thinking.

  The Suspects

  Stacy left Art with the notice he would be interviewed and his statement recorded. He nodded acceptance walking off to share some memories of his once viable active life partner. Now he was alone in a world that required companionship. He didn't function well without someone to lean on. As far as revenge went, it never entered his mind, but as some anger crept into his being, Art found some relief thinking that whoever murdered his life partner would pay their dues one way or another. Art, head down, walked across the street to the interview place chosen by that uppity Chief of Police with the hard black eyes. Art felt the daggers he was most familiar with being gay from others. Tears ran down his cheeks as a siren went off signaling a vehicle that would take his mate to a cold dark place inside a room where they would dissect his once lovely body into pieces of deteriorating parts.

  Stacy waited for Ben to arrive. Detective Ben Razor from the Oregon State Police had been a large part of her team since the days down in Southern Oregon solving homicides together. Ben was the quiet one who subtlety did his job with meticulous precision. On more than one occasion, after the CSI team had finished their inspection, Ben would scan the area for clues. More often than not, he'd discover something that would part of the complex puzzle of a homicide.

  While waiting, Cathy Miller drove up and parked in the nearest area possible. Cathy was Lane Counties Chief Crime Scene Investigator. The state police had their own CSI team, but Lane County wanted one for their largest city of Eugene. Hence, Cathy Miller had her office in the coroners building. From the first homicide case that Stacy was asked to participate in, Cathy had been a true ally in a turf war along with a political obstacle, which threatened to prevent a satisfactory end to a complex kidnap/ murder of a local female university student.

  Now with a few cases being history, the ensuing times working together had drawn the two young women together as both colleagues and friends. Rushing up Cathy said, "Sorry I'm late. I'd a hard time finding someone to watch the kids. Damn, I'm about to hire a live in babysitter Stacy. So what do we have here tonight that is muggy and without a breeze."

  "Marsha says it's probably poison that ended the life of a university professor. He was celebrating his tenure that was just handed down to him. We've twelve guests to interview. There're some rumors the vic wasn't well liked for reasons yet undiscovered. He's also gay, but not sure that has anything to do with his death, but we'll not discount it just yet. I'm waiting now for Ben and we've two city detectives to help us interview. You know I've a feeling this case will drain all of our tanks Cathy. We're dealing with the highest of the educated who know how to answer or not answer a question. If indeed he was poisoned, where did it come from, how was it administered, who administered and why?"

  "Hey remember just a step at a time. We're in no hurry. The victim is not going anywhere soon and the killer is not going anywhere either. My father had an old logging book that he always sat on the coffee table. On the cover was a man with an axe chopping a tree that was ten feet in diameter. Lord how long would it take him to chop it down. I doubt he got frustrated, but a stroke at a time until it fell. There's a lesson there, my father would say to us girls."

  "Here comes Ben so we'll get started with the interviews. I need Emma to get names and contact numbers of all the guests. I'll be across the street when you're finished looking at the crime scene."

  Emma and Dan were waiting for Stacy to arrive. Stacy said, "Emma see each of the guests for their names, contact numbers and office on campus address. Let me know if you have any trouble. Both you need to be aware these are highly educated, mostly pampas know it all people who will jerk you around without being aware of it. Watch the eyes for deceit." Stacy turned to say hello to Ben.

  "Evening Stacy. At least this homicide is in
our back yard. I was bored at home fighting the kids about their homework. The wife runs and hides afraid to face the reality of needing a good education. Never mind, what we have to occupy our next few days," asked Ben.

  Stacy related what little she knew about what they were up against other than somebody, most assuredly, poisoned the house owner. She said, "He was having a celebration party for his recent promotion to tenure in his department. Apparently somebody didn't think he deserved the position of full professorship. We've a dozen suspects to sort through Ben. One or more murdered Andrew Floaten. The city, by the grace of the new chief, loaned us two detectives to help interview. I called Rory too. He's on his way as we speak. I'm afraid Ben we're traveling a crooked road to the guilty party. Well, Detective Razor, shall we begin?"

  Interviews

  Emma came up to Stacy. "Here's a list of the guests and their contact numbers. I also had them put their office address and cell phone number."

  "How did they seem to you Em," asked Stacy.

  "Not happy to have their Saturday night ruined. The entire party guests are from the biology department with the head of the department being David Oxnard. Also Dan is out making sure nobody enters once we begin the interviews. He's looking for a sheriffs deputy or a city uniform to watch the door."

  "Okay Em. Now I must get going or these suspects will get antsy as all get out." Stacy walked in and all eyes turned towards her. She said, "I'm US Marshall Stacy Foreham. I'm in charge of this investigation. I'm sure you all know that each and every one of you that were guests of the victim are suspects in a homicide case. Each of you will be interviewed and then released to go home. There will be follow up interviews with all of you and I make no apology for the inquiry into determining who murdered Andrew Floaten.

  These interview shouldn't take too long as we've six of us to conduct the questioning. Behind me are two city homicide detectives. They will each interview two of you, but one at a time. Okay. Sergeant Phil Aarons will interview, Amelia Mason and Ethan Clark." Emma quickly wrote the two names down and handed the list to Phil. "Next are Logan Rilley and Lucas Goldsmith who will be interviewed by Detective Will Westwood. Deputy Marshall Dan Swollow will interview Dylan Thomas and Leah Lancer. Detective Ben Razor from the Oregon State Police will interview Sarah Green and Camila Knox. Coming soon is US Marshal Rory Caltex from our Beaverton office. He'll interview Claire Jordan and Aaron Taylor. I'll interview David Oxnard and Jayden Avery.

  "It appears we've enough tables for the interviews. Please be patient and answer the questions truthfully. I realize that sounds like an old cliché but if you tell an untruth, the chances are very high we'll catch it sooner or later. Okay let's begin. I'll begin with Jayden Avery right here at this table please. Each detective will call out a name so listen carefully."

  Stacy with yellow legal pad in hand, Emma at her side with her steno pad, she asked her first question of Jayden Avery. She told him to refer to her as Marshall and she'd address him as Mr. Avery for the record. "Mr. Avery, at what time did you arrive at the victims house for the party?"

  Looking Stacy in the eye, the middle age professor said, "I arrived at 6 pm. It was stated that was the time to arrive."

  "Tell me what you saw in the way of snacks and drinks please," asked Stacy.

  "Somebody had gone to a lot of work and expense providing trays of snacks and a variety of drinks. His friend and roommate Art was busy making a punch in a large crystal bowl. I had some and it was very tasty indeed."

  "This is a speculative question Mr. Avery. Why do you think Andrew Floaten was killed?"

  "Talk goes around as you well know Marshall. The word was he'd been plagiarizing his publications to increase the tenure process. I personally don't know if it's true or not. There're grey areas and rarely is something copied direct. However, Marshall, there's one retired professor emeritus really upset with his acquiring tenure. Other's will tell you the same thing. His name is Sidney Black."

  "Okay, now include yourself Mr. Avery, who do you think might have had reason to murder Andrew Floaten?"

  "For someone to take another life is beyond my imagination in our daily lives. War is no excuse for killing. At our level of education, we should know that for whatever reason to hate or dislike someone, taking the life from another individual is not in our vocabulary. Regardless of whether or not he cheated his way to tenure, that wasn't the first time nor will it be the last time."

  "When you saw Andrew at the party was he drinking punch out of the bowl or was he drinking something all together different," asked Stacy.

  "From what I observed he was drinking from the punch bowl. He had a glass in his hand since I arrived. He was one happy guy floating around the room jabbering a mile a minute. His roommate Art was tending the punch bowl and moving around the room with trays of snack foods. Actually, I thought everyone was enjoying themselves. I was chatting with David Oxnard when all of a sudden, Andy gasped trying to suck in some air, then he turned a half circle collapsing onto the floor with his drink glass spilling onto the carpet. I stared and I assume all the other guests stared as well. He twitched a few times and then lay still. At first we thought it was a heart attack, but then, I think it was Amelia Mason, check for vital signs. Nothing was relayed from the shaking of her head. I could see some foaming substance trickling out of his mouth."

  "Alright Mr. Avery, that's all for now. Like I said before, there will be follow up questions. Try to remember anything that you might think will help us solve this crime. Here is my card. Thanks for your time."

  Biology Head of Dept

  David Oxnard was next on Stacy's list, but just before she called him, in walked Rory. He walked over to her with a serious look on his face. "I drove like a mad man. Give me a brief rundown and what questions to ask." Emma handed him a list of questions that Stacy had asked. Stacy was impressed that Emma had the foresight to prepare Rory upon arrival.

  "Find out who disliked him and why someone might want him dead," said Stacy.

  "Okay, he was murdered by poison and his party was for his new tenured position. I got it and I'll wing it if necessary," said Rory moving off to find one of his two suspects to interview.

  After the introductions, Stacy asked, "Who killed Andrew Floaten Mr. Oxnard?"

  Stacy saw he never even blinked. He said, "We know one thing Marshall, it was a person who killed him. Also it was somebody at his house just a few hours ago that did it. We can rightfully assume it was poison. We can rightfully assume that anyone of us has access to poison plants on campus. I don't know who killed him but I've way too much to lose by murdering one of my staff."

  "After you arrived what did you see in the way of drinks and food," asked Stacy.

  "Art had made a stout punch that was very sweet, but tasted good. I had wine myself. There were food trays and again Art was sailing around the room offering snacks."

  "What or how did you view Andrew at the party?"

  "He was ecstatic with receiving tenure. He was drinking punch as I could tell by the color of his glass contents. I didn't see him eating, but then I wasn't watching all the time, now was I"

  "Why, if you know or can speculate, did somebody kill him?"

  "It appears that somebody resented the fact he made full professor. A cloud of plagiarism hung over his head Marshall. Somebody at that party must have discovered he really did commit plagiarism. However, that in itself is not a crime punishable by death. There must be more that meets the eye here."

  "I understand a Professor Sidney Black was upset about Andrew concerning his written published articles. What can you add to that Mr. Oxnard?"

  "Sid and I are close friends Marshall. Yes, he was very upset and he professed that given a little bit more time, he'd prove the charge of plagiarism against Andrew Floaten. We really never know for sure what somebody is thinking and what they might do if they believe in something strong enough. However, taking a person's life is over the top in my book."

  "Would you be so kind as to
point out someone who might have a grudge against Andrew?"

  "Well, a rumor has circulated that Andrew was shopping for another roommate. I can't tell you where I heard it as I don't recall anyone in particular telling me anything so worthless to my life."

  "Thanks Mr. Oxnard. I'm sure you'll be visited again for some follow up questions," said Stacy standing holding out her hand with a card in it. Stacy looked over Emma perfect note taking. Three things stood out: One was the retired professor; two the charge of plagiarism; and three was the possibility that the victim was going to change living partners. The notion of motive and opportunity clearly delineated that motive was what would define this case. Opportunity was had by all thirteen suspects. Somebody thought that murder was the sentence for Andrew Floaten for whatever was done – did -- and what he would do.

  Stacy thought it best to hold back and let things develop, but she thought that plagiarism was not the motive for murder in this case. It was something else and much more serious. Stacy looked up seeing Art Menans sitting on one of the chairs talking to a fellow professor. It was time to have another chat with Art. She asked Emma to ask him to come over for a few questions.

  The Happy Couple

  Art sat down looking like he'd taken a beating and left in a ditch somewhere. "Art, losing a mate is indescribable. I doubt one ever really overcomes the loss. I'm not going to tell you that I know how you feel, but probably most in this room have lost a love one.

  Art in a case of homicide, some pointed personal questions are asked to determine who committed the act. I have to ask you some of those personal questions. Are you strong enough to answer some sensitive questions?"