Murder Mysteries #5

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  "Yes, one time the corvette dude and another big guy were in a big dark colored luxury car delivering product to me."

  "We'll need you to get with one of our artists to get a drawing of both the guys you have done business with," said Stacy.

  "How many fitness centers are you aware of that are secretly videoing women's locker rooms," asked Stacy.

  "Hightone is a franchise with locations under different names. I'm aware of Bend, Medford, Eugene and Salem. I've no idea who owns Hightone. I'm just a fitness trainer."

  "You were working at Hightone when Pete Poncy was the manager. I'd have to suspect he was and is privy to the drugs and to the videos. Can you tell us what you know about him?"

  "I really don't know. He was always out-front greeting and saying goodbye to members."

  "Okay, you need to get a lawyer and I'll do my best to work a deal for you if you give us all you know about the drugs and videos. Also the names of the fitness centers in other cities," said Stacy standing up. "To make sure you don't run we're going to have to book you into city jail. You'll have to arrange for bail and a lawyer. We'll have an artist visit you shortly."

  Closing In

  Rory, Ben and Stacy met in his office after Felix Warner was transported to Eugene. Rory had a round table similar to Stacy's office conference furniture. She said, "We're closing in on these bad guys. I'm afraid that once we open up to the world the results of all fitness centers owned by Hightone and ours at my residence, will shock the hundreds of members knowing their nude bodies have been videoed. I expect hundreds of thousands of dollars have been received from hungry eyes glued to their computers.

  I think it's time we involved Connie on our findings. It would take a simultaneous search on all of Hightone's centers to put a shut down on its illegal activities. Now for the last action of the day is I'm going to have Dan pick up Pete Poncy for safe keeping. He's our prime suspect and susceptible to flight. Okay anything else," as she looked from Rory to Ben.

  "Stacy, you're fairly sure Pete murdered Dirk Cassiday," asked Rory.

  "Yes, I'm ninety nine percent positive he killed Dirk. I think Dirk was getting cold feet and was a risk that needed shutting up. Poor old Roger was just a voyeur who discovered the peep show. The heavy weights shut him up. Pete is our connection to the higher powers. I do believe Pete was and or is the link between the Hightone players and the regular low level guys like Boyd Riggins and Shawn Little and of course our Felix Warner person who will name names to save jail time. Excuse me why I call Dan and then call Connie. Tall Man how about a cup of green tea?

  "Okay, and Ben what for you?"

  "Juice if you've got it. Also, while we sit here ask Rhonda to run a check on Hightone Fitness Centers."

  Stacy finished her conversation with Dan and then called Connie. As usual Connie picked up right away. "Connie here's what we've got at the present time. First we've a female fitness trainer who is the go-between for acquiring steroids and monitors the female locker rooms for videos. Apparently, Hightone has centers in Bend, Medford, Eugene, Salem and here in Beaverton that all have cameras in women's restrooms or locker rooms. There's a middle man who is Pete Poncy who manages my or our fitness center where I live. I'm sure he murdered Dirk Cassiday to keep his mouth shut. The other victim, Roger Sparks, a custodian apparently discovered the cameras and when Pete, his boss found out, had him murdered to silence him."

  "Good work as usual Stacy. I'll get the Justice Department on this right away. We'll get search warrants on all of Hightone's centers. What else Stacy?"

  "We’re getting a drawing of the perps who murdered Roger Sparks from the fitness trainer as we speak. I'm scared that if any leaks drift to the principals of Hightone, well, not sure what will happen there."

  "Lock up that Pete dude and keep that female trainer under protection for a while. We've a safe house in Beaverton and I'll send some assistance."

  "I'm in Beaverton now and will be leaving for Eugene directly. I'll question Pete Poncy and see if he'll cut a deal. I'll update you when I know more."

  "We should have warrants and personnel ready to move in on Hightone's centers by tomorrow morning. I'll let you know what happens."

  Pete Under Hot lights

  Rory stayed with Rhonda and arranged an artist to come for a portrait of both Hightone men that delivered product to Wendy. Stacy and Ben left for Eugene. Rory would fax the background check on Hightone's management.

  On the way down I-5, Ben asked, "What put you onto Pete Poncy as the killer?"

  "First both Boyd Riggins and Shawn Little were on the treadmills plugged into tunes. Felix had left and indeed he could have been the killer. If he wasn't the killer then the process of elimination takes place. Pete Poncy was the only one who was present as all others were busy or gone."

  "How about the video or camera angle. I'm guessing Roger Sparks sent you suspecting something wasn't right."

  "I found it rather strange that morning that Roger wasn't around gawking at the women working out like he usually did. Pete had to go look for him. I think Pete discovered Roger found the cameras. Pete subsequently passed that knowledge on to higher ups who in turn shut Rogers mouth for all eternity. What I didn't know was the size of this operation. My question now is Oregon the only state where Hightone operates?"

  Ben took a small, but significant gulp of air thinking about how many women were literally caught naked on camera. There were lucrative markets around the world for these types of videos. He shook his head and Stacy saw him out of the corner of her eye. She thanked her God that she always went home to shower after working out.

  Dan had Pete locked up in county jail. Pete was screaming for a lawyer, but nobody paid any attention to him. Stacy had decided to let him sweat a little and then around 9 pm, interrogate him.

  Ben dropped Stacy off at her house and went home. They'd meet again at the county jail at 9 pm. Dan and Emma went home. Sharon stayed to receive the fax from Rhonda or from back east.

  Stacy took a shower and afterwards, waited for Dan to pick her up for transport to the office. Emma was feeling very pregnant so she happily stayed home. Stacy, Dan and Sharon ordered dinner in and Cathy showed up as well. While waiting for the pizza to arrive, Stacy filled Cathy and the others the parts of the puzzle that were missing.

  Sharon heard the fax and jumped up to fetch the reports coming in. Stacy noted the time at half past seven. Sharon returned after making some copies. Stacy read with keen interest about Hightone Fitness Centers. Sharon watched Stacy's eyes as facial expression. Later she would tell her best girlfriend that she'd never seen such intense concentration before.

  Stacy wasn't surprised by what she read. Like a lot of corporations, the ownership was hard to find. The local Oregon people were, as it turned out later, just puppets to a regional office that went to God knows where. Stacy put down the documents thinking this was a good job for Connie back east. They so far, had done their jobs. In a few hours they would hope to secure a guilty plea from Pete Poncy.

  After dinner, Sharon went home; Dan and Stacy went to the county jail. They met Ben inside chatting with an old timer Ben once worked with years ago. Ben introduced Willie to Stacy. Willie was a jovial portly man who led the way to the interrogation rooms. Dan, Ben and Stacy sat down waiting for Willie to bring Pete Poncy for questioning. Stacy said while waiting, "I doubt I could ever get used to the smell of this place. How somebody could work here day in and day out is beyond me. Anyway, Dan take notes and Ben make sure we get this recorded. I'll read him his rights.

  Willie gave a slight rap on the door and waddled in with Pete almost obscure behind him. Pete's eyes went around the table and sat down with an air of confidence. Willie stood guard while Stacy read Pete is rights. After he was made to say for the record, yes, he understood, Stacy began her questioning.

  "Pete Poncy for the record we have a warrant for your arrest in the murder of Dirk Cassiday. Now before we begin a long list of questions, let me say this, you're a mere pa
wn in a game so big that being stoic and denying you murdered Dirk Cassiday, will only result in you taking the full fall for the crime. It's true we don't have an eye witness, but when all of the members are accounted for doing other things, only leaves you to have quickly walked back to where Dirk was working out. Felix Warner had already left after spotting for Dirk. It was known Dirk was getting ready to relieve the stress of his involvement in the video and steroid portion of the illegal activities by seeing the authorities. You either took it upon yourself to silence him or had orders from Portland to shut his mouth.

  You took the opportunity to hurry back to spot for Dirk on the bench press. The other members were tread milling away into their own world of exercise. Roger was back in the locker rooms checking out the camera locations for the women taking showers. Now my boss thinks we've a strong case against you Pete and when a jury hears about your involvement in illegal activities from a source close to you, who has implicated your involvement, we feel you'll be convicted of murder. If you would like to make a deal, now's the time to speak up."

  All during this opening statement by Stacy, Pete had been listening carefully. Stacy said later that maybe the hours he'd spent in jail convinced him to listen well. He said, "I think we can make a deal, but I want a lawyer to guide me through the process. I'll not admit anything at this time. Get me a lawyer. Or better yet, let me call a lawyer. I've funds available. Also I want protection as the people who're behind this business have long arms."

  "Just for our information, why did Dirk need to die," asked Stacy.

  "He became nervous that he was having trouble sleeping. He wanted to relieve the burden, so to speak. When we first started this program, with a single camera in Beaverton, we enjoyed watch some of our member in the nude. Then someone suggested we market the videos and next thing we knew, money was flowing into our bank account from credit cards. We found a good connection for steroids. We're not sure how they discovered we had videos of naked women, but like overnight, we had the video part of our program taken away from us. The people behind this operation are seriously lethal and vicious. I was told to silence Dirk or be silenced myself. Well there you have it. I need isolation or I'm a dead man. Also, Boyd and Shawn are in the same boat as I'm in. They know too much. Felix too."

  "We've Felix taken care of Pete. He'll corroborate your story. You know the one I feel sorry for that died needlessly is Roger Sparks," said Stacy standing up with a nod to Willie to take the guy away.

  Wrap It Up

  Rory and Rhonda were having dinner at a nice restaurant. Rhonda said, after hearing from Rory what Stacy had told him about Pete confessing, "How does she do it Rory? I follow it religiously and all I see is like a flock of birds flying all around my head never landing so I could see what they looked like. She's one amazing person with a special gift."

  "I'm like you as parts of the case float around and every time I try to grab a piece, it scoots away. She has the ability to stop any part she wants, place it in her mind, then take another one and so on until she has a picture of the whole scene. I too am amazed and feel so stupid when I'm around her. Ben is a quick learner and he is catching up, albeit slowly, to become a very good detective. Well, Rhonda, we've got two good drawing from Wendy who is under our protection, so here's to us regardless if we only played a small role in this Murder at the Health Club case.

  Connie called at 7 am the next morning. Stacy and staff were in their kitchen having hot drinks and bakery. Emma was feeling better and Sharon was assuming more of her workload. Dan was kind of quiet this morning. Later he told Stacy he was getting nervous about becoming a father.

  Stacy listened to Connie tell her about Hightone. It wasn't surprising to Stacy that the ownership resided in Asia. There were a few players in San Francisco who would be indicted on small charges. The thugs who were suspected of dealing drugs and of murdering Roger Sparks were indentified, but disappeared for the time being. "Stacy, we'll make a deal with the guy who murdered Dirk Cassiday and protect the fitness trainer. The other players are on their own. We'll do our best to reach across the Pacific Ocean to Asia where we'll at least make public their names. Well, another one put to rest Stacy. Good job to all. When the news hits Oregon about the health club videos, all will blow over in a few weeks time. Take a few days off and go see your father," said Connie with a small chuckle.

  Stacy sat thinking and when she stood up, called Rory who a half ring later said, "Well, what now Super?"

  "Connie gave me a few days off Tall Man. What you doing?"

  "She said the same to me. You want me to drive?"

  Stacy could tell he was holding his breath, or at the very least, breathing shallowly. "Well, Dan did offer to drive me down to Bandon, but, if you want to, I guess I could ride with you."

  "I'll be there in two hours. Damn Super, don't play so hard to get. My doctor said he'd put me on valium if I keep this kind of stress level all the time," he said laughing and hanging up.

  ///

  I thank all of you for reading my stories. I hope the stories give you some pleasure in an otherwise hectic and stressful time we all live in. I alone am responsible for any errors, misspells or grammar mistakes. It is my hope, for the reasonable price of this book; you will over look the errors in writing. Thanks.

  Robert C. Waggoner [retired]

  September 2014 [Philippines]