Secrets On Alderberry Road: Shattered hearts and broken dreams

by Debra Smith

  He walked outside with Elizabeth at his side. I asked,” Amelia, how did the books I found in the mansion get there?” She answered,” I hired the private investigator Jerry Lyle to get information on Heath. Jerry found the books in Heath’s office, hidden in a secret cabinet behind the desk. When we met at a café, he gave the books, photographs and newspaper clippings to me; I hid everything in the attics secret pantry. How did you find?” I answered,” It wasn’t easy. I kept pressing on the walls until something opened. I took everything to my Captain Gordon. What happen to Eve Baker?” Dusty replied,” I can answer that question. Eve and her children were sent to Santa Barbara, California. She runs a beauty shop with her sister. Last I heard she is happily remarried.” I started asking questions about the court house murders to Grace Pike to Marshall Dalton to Police Commissioner Ron Baker and finally about the night Clair Sander disappeared. Dusty told us about the court house murders first. He didn’t know Commissioner Baker was going to pull the trigger on everyone in the court room. Don Tomas Ruggiero gave the order to take out the PI Jerry Lyle. Ruggiero felt if the PI was out of the picture no one would know about the books. Dusty went with Commissioner Baker to ensure the hit was only the PI during transporting after court. But things went very wrong in an instant. Once inside the court room, something snapped in Commissioner Baker. He remembered the PI insisting he had information on him to put him away for life. When the PI found the books, he gave them to Clair who hid the books in the one place no one would think twice to look. Commissioner Baker figured with everyone gone, his secret was safe. No one knew the shooting would cause Ruggiero to go on a rampage. Dusty paused for a moment to ask,” Do you happen to know why Ruggiero went on a rampage?” I answered,” He was informed by someone, his nephew Dakota Janice was murdered in the court house. Do you know who called him?” A shocked expression came over his face as he answered,” I didn’t know Dakota Janice; public defender was a nephew to Don Ruggiero. That explains why he went on a rampage. As for who called him about the hit, it was Mayor Cecil Brant for he wanted the PI dead, but no one else. I do know he was angry at Commissioner Baker for the mess he created. Shortly there- after that Mayor Brant was arrested for the bribery and embezzlement from an undercover sting operation run buy my contact FBI Agent Turi. It was then discovered Brant had mob connections to Ruggiero and Serjio. For three days it was utter chaos. Commissioner Baker poisoned Grace Pike with cyanide out of fear she knew something that could put him away.

  I helped him clean up the place. The cyanide was put in the wine. Something I discovered during the clean-up. I knew then I was getting in too deep. I had to get out without blowing my cover. The opportunity came from the stormy night. It offered all of us away out.” He finished speaking to collect his thoughts.

  The mention of that stormy night made Amelia shutter. Then she was Clair Sander, a house wife held captive by her husband. He controlled everything she did, from time to be home to who she could talk too. A loveless marriage that made her felt trapped, until Trace came; aka Trent McClure came into her life. She fell in love with his black wavy hair, dark eyes, dashing smile, tall athletic build that caressed her body with his strong arms. His gentle hands wiped the tear away from her cheek. The attraction was mutual. She remembered their first kiss. Clair Sander’s death gave birth to an opportunity for her new life as Amelia, wife of Dusty. She wanted to forget her old life. Byron and she found happiness at the ranch. Something they had at the mansion, but were lost a long time ago. She watched the transformation take place in her husband, Heath. His wealth turned him into a cold man for the wealth brought power. She softly said,” I remembered that stormy night. A tragic night that gave me my freedom.” She closed her eyes for a brief moment. Letting out a sigh of relief she told us about the events leading up to that night. Heath was angry at Byron for refusing to go to New York. The arguing was constant. She and Heath was arguing about the pending marriage to Jacklyn Crandle. Byron would stay over at Sky’s house to get away from Heath. Father and son disagreeing about future plans. The mother agreeing with the son made the father all the more angrier. The arguing came to a blow on that stormy night. The slamming doors echoed through the house. Voices in anger could be heard. All three was in the den when the fighting came to an end. Heath was dropping photographs of the family in the fireplace as the fire crackled. Next he started to read a telegraph from the PI he hired informing him son and girlfriend eloped on Oct. 08, 1949. When Clair walked toward him, he dropped the telegraph into the fire, partly burning it. In an ice cold harsh voice Heath said,” I will not allow the wedding to happen. I forbid it. Failure not to obey me is not an option. Byron will go to New York to continue the family business. End of discussion.” Byron and Clair both said,” Won’t go.” She saw the rage in his face with each lightening flash. At the same moment he threw the whiskey bottle at her, the lightening split the oak tree in half. The bottle shattered against the wall. Part of the tree crashed to the ground. Byron and Clair stormed out the French doors in the pouring rain.

  Byron took off on his motorcycle. Clair got into her car to get away from her husband. The roads were covered with water. The rain made it difficult to see. Lightening hit a tree branch. When it came crashing down, she swerved, losing complete control of the car. She crashed into the embankment. The car came to abrupt stop. The driver door window shattered as her head hit the glass. Blood started flowing from the gash on the side of her head. She fought to stay awake. She could feel herself become unconscious. Her eyes were barely open when she saw Heath’s enraged face in the rain, standing by the passenger door. He yanked the door open, cursing Clair’s very existence. He pulled her out of the car. He laid her on the back seat of his car. He slipped into the driver’s seat, stomping on the gas to take her to the hospital. While at the hospital, he used the courtesy phone to make several calls. He had the car towed to the rear of the mansion. At his request Trace brought Judge James Lucas to the hospital. Judge Lucas, Heath and Clair’s doctor walked into an office to discuss her condition. Trace saw his beloved Clair on a gurney unconscious. Her head was wrapped with a bandage. He walked up to her. He softly whispered in her ear,” I am going to take you away as promised.” He quickly wrapped her up in a blanket. After he picked up, he sat her down in a wheel chair. He placed his hat on her head. Next he wheeled her out the door. The nurses didn’t notice she was missing until they came to take her to get x-rays. Trace and Clair was on the road to meet Sky and Carrie with Byron. Trace called Sky about Byron prior to going to the hospital.

  Byron was trying to go to Sky and Raven’s house for help. Riding his motorcycle at a high rate speed in the rain caused him to slip and slide across the road. He could feel the cold rain with the water surrounding him. His body came to a rest beside the river’s edge. The thought of not seeing Jackie again, made him fight to come to awake. Every breath and movement sent severe pain throughout his body. Thunder rumbled, lightening cracked with the heavy rain pouring down. Suddenly he felt hands rolling him over to his back from lying on his side. He was relieved to see Sky, Raven and Carrie. They removed his jacket. Raven put a blanket around him. After they got him into the car, Sky threw Byron’s jacket into the river. Raven told Sky she’ll meet up with them, once everything quiets down. Sky gave her a hug. They didn’t know it, but it would be the last time brother and sister would see each other. Sky and Carrie with Byron lying on the back seat met Trace at the county line. Marshal Dalton gave them new identities with a station wagon to take Clair and Byron’s unconscious bodies to Montana. Each hoped the ones left behind would be safe for there was no turning back.

  At the hospital, Heath was enraged his wife’s unconscious body had disappeared. To make matter’s worse; the police arrived to inform him about his son, Byron’s motorcycle accident. He felt as though someone kicked him in the stomach. He had lost his entire family in one night. Turning ghost white, he softly ask,” What I have I done?” In a daze, he saw everyone running around looking for his wife. He
heard the police officers tell him they’ll have to look for his son’s body in the morning, once the storm stops. The searched for his wife at the hospital had come to an end with the conclusion her where abouts were unknown. He ordered the staff at the mansion to a hotel.

  In the morning, Heath met the search party at the river’s edge. The motorcycle was put in the garage. Heath confirmed Byron’s jacket. He could feel the tears coming from his eyes. The last time he wept was when his parents died, ten years ago. He felt this was punishment for all the wrong he had done to his family. The harsh words, controlling, cruel, abusive behavior toward them was something he could not erase now. By his own actions, he lost everything dear to his heart. He made a promise; if given a second chance he would give them the best of everything. He would love them as he did before. At the end of the day, there was no body. They decided his son’s body went somewhere down river and may never be found. Heath had a cross made up with Byron’s name on it. He put it by the oak tree. With tears streaming down his face, he softly said,” Please forgive me, my son. I’ve always loved you.” He laid a single rose by the cross.

  CHAPTER IX

  Amelia ask,” Robbi, I saw Heath reading a telegraph before he dropped it into the fire. Do you know what it said?” I answered,” The partial fragment stated son and girlfriend eloped on Oct. 08, 1949.” Shane replied,” Jackie and I went to another state to get married, just over the state line. We told the JP we were 21. No questions ask, he married us. I am sorry mom I didn’t tell you sooner, but I knew father would have got it annulled for we were only seventeen. Our 18th birthdays wasn’t until May.” Amelia had a surprised expression on her face. She softly said,” I understand, son. But you and Jackie wasn’t really married, because the two of you lied about your ages. If everything went according to plan, the two of you would have been married legally on June 4th for it would have been after Jackie and your eighteenth birthday. The two of you could have come to this ranch and lived out your life together. But it didn’t happen. Everything that wasn’t supposed to go wrong did. Now we are here, doing the best we can.” I told them about the letter Heath had written prior to his death. Both said they can never forgive him for what he did to them. By now Seth and Elizabeth returned to the living room. Amelia said,” Enough talk about the ugly past. Let me show you a good life,” handing me a photo album.

  She sat down beside me. I opened the photo album. The story of their life in Montana. began. When they finally arrived at the ranch, Hazel and Glen Kern welcomed them. Dusty explained to them what happened for Amelia and Shane were still unconscious. Hazel called the town doctor who still made house calls. While Glen and Seth carried Shane to a bedroom, Dusty carried Amelia to her room. Elizabeth helped Hazel gather Blankets. Doctor Edgar, an elderly gentleman arrived with Doctor Cray an average height with dark hair was his new assistant. Doctor Edgar knew Clair from the time she was born. He quickly went to work on her. Doctor Cray examined Byron. Hazel helped Doctor Cray with removing Byron’s clothes. He treated the road rash with ointment and gauze. She put Glen’s pajamas on him. When the doctors finished the examination, Doctor Edgar told them with rest Clair and Byron will be fine. They’ll return in the morning to see if they awaken yet. Glen decided to call Sheriff Mack. In thirty minutes, Sheriff Mack’ muscular build arrived at the ranch. Dusty informed him he was FBI Agent Trent McClure under cover. Sheriff Mack listened intently about the corruption at Silver Springs. He decided it would be best to live their under the new identities. Being Silver Springs was corrupted, Sheriff Mack decided against calling anyone from there.

  He confirmed the information Dusty gave him from someone he trusted, local Judge Cory Harlin. Sheriff Mack told Dusty they would be safe here. He’ll do his best to protect them. From that day forward, they knew they were home permanently. They were finally free.

  Amelia and Shane woke up the next morning with their bodies aching. At first she couldn’t believe her eyes, seeing her parents. She softly asked,” Mom, dad, is it really you?” Hazel, her mom, smiling answered,” Yes, dear, it’s us. Byron is in the next room resting.” When she started to speak, her dad, Glen said,” Hush now, rest. We’ll talk later when your better.” Her mom prop her up to eat. Glen walked into Byron’s room. He was relieved to see his Grandfather. A week later, Doctor Edgar gave them a clean bill of health.

  Soon they discovered ranch life wasn’t easy. It wasn’t all work with no play. Byron, now Shane learned how to fly fish from his Grandfather. They each learned how to ride a horse. Church on Sundays with a game of baseball after services. Sky and Carrie, now Seth and Elizabeth were married at the ranch. Life went on for them. Clair, now Amelia, learned how to cold to pack from her mom as did Elizabeth. There was livestock to tend to with crops to harvest in the field in the fall. Elizabeth enjoyed gathering eggs. Everyone had a job to do. Glen decided to build another house for Seth and Elizabeth. Shane already had the house built for him and Jackie. Dusty and Amelia decided to stay at the main house. Finally one summer Dusty and Amelia were married. It was indeed a happy day for everyone. Shane learned to love again. He married the local veterinarian daughter, named Janet. Unfortunately, he lost her to cancer after five years of marriage. Shane never remarried. When Amelia’s parents passed away, the ranch went to all of them.

  They would at times wonder why didn’t hear from Raven or why didn’t she make it to the ranch. They knew they couldn’t risk trying to find out. They hoped they all would have a reunion once it was safe. I ask,” Did Raven know where you were?” Dusty answered,” No, Marshal Dalton was to go to get her. Bring her to the half-way point to meet Sheriff Mack. I don’t know what went wrong, neither did Sheriff Mack.” I replied,” Marshal Dalton was murdered the same way as Grace Pike. Did you give Commissioner Baker revolver to Marshal Dalton?” Dusty closed his eyes for a brief second. Now he knew why Raven didn’t come. He answered,” Yes, it was the gun used in the court house shooting and the same gun used to shoot Cirrillo Serjio to death.” Upon hearing that name, I asked about the deli shooting.

  Dusty confirmed it was Commissioner Baker who pulled the trigger that killed Serjio for he saw it happen. All agreed to return to Silver Springs. They felt it was time to bury the past for good. The house keeper, a middle aged lady walked into the living room to tell us dinner was on the table.

  Randal and I followed them to the dining room. On the table was biscuits, gravy, mashed potatoes, fried chicken and steamed mixed vegetables. The aroma made me hungry. Not saying a word, we sat down to eat. My thoughts returned to my grandmother. She was in for a surprise. I couldn’t wait to see her face. Then I thought about mom and Uncle Gerald being told about Shane. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard Amelia say,” Raise your glasses to my great-granddaughter, the fine detective who finally will bring my family together, again.” Glasses of ice tea clicked in an agreement. After dinner, we had pie Alamo for dessert.

  Amelia showed Randal and I our rooms after we finished eating. In the morning, I was startled awake by the roaster crowing. It was something I wasn’t used to. Everyone was already up. They were packed and ready to go. Breakfast was on the table, ham, eggs, toast and coffee. The chit chat was lively. Happy to go to resolve the past, but yet sadden that Raven may have been another victim. Shortly after we ate breakfast, a farm hand took us to the train station. It was like a dream for me to travel with them. After all this time, the truth of their where a bouts finally surfaced.

  Soon we arrived at Silver Springs train station; Marshall Colter and Captain Gordon was waiting for us. After the introductions, we went to the police station. From there I took Seth and Elizabeth to Doctor Bordou’s office as Dusty, Shane and Amelia worked on a written statement about what happen on June 3,1950. Randal stayed with them to assist. When we walked into Doctor Bordou’s office, Doctor Cora and he was finishing up the ballistic report on th.38 special revolver. I said,” Doctor Bordou and Doctor Cora, this is Seth and Elizabeth. Seth is Raven’s brother.” Shaking hands, Doctor Bordou
said,” Please have a seat. I’ll swab your mouth for the DNA test.” Without saying a word, Seth sat down on a stool. Doctor Bordou swabbed his mouth. He said,” Give me an hour and it’ll be ready.” I told Seth and Elizabeth to go ahead to return to the police station. I wanted to talk to Doctor Bordou privately. Once they left, I started asking him about Raven. He told me there was a slug they found in her breast bone.

  It matched the slug from the court house. Both slugs were fired from the .38 police special revolver I gave him to test. Smiling, Doctor Cora said,” We have more good news. The same revolver was used to kill Cirrillo Serjio.” I replid,” I thank you, both. Now the evidence is in, I am going to make my arrest.” I left his office to return to the police station. I quickly informed Captain Gordon I was going to bring in Professor Calvin Calouchi for questioning. She gave me the okay and I left.

  In a few minutes, I arrived at the university. I saw students chatting on the side walk. I asked them where the music department was located. They told me down the side walk to the left. I walked down the side walk. I saw the sign on the building saying music department. I entered the building. I saw several classrooms with the professor’s names by the door. The third door on the right had Professor Calvin Calouchi on the name plate. Being the door was open, I walked in. I saw him sitting at his desk going over papers. The room was empty except for him. I walked down the aisle to his desk. When he looked up, he saw my badge on my belt. He removed his reading glasses. Sighing, he leaned back into his chair. The day of reckoning was here. Standing by his desk, I said,” Professor Calvin Calouchi or should I call you Ron Baker, in either name, I’ll need you to come with me.” Not saying a word, he stood up. We walked to the truck in silence.