The River Waits for Murder

by C. Ruth Daly

  Donna followed her and did the same as the man backed up toward the porch door and then stopped. “I hope that I can talk to you sometime, Donna—and Glynda, too. I want to learn more about Ned Hollis. It’s an interest of mine. I like researching and I am thinking about—uh going to law school here in Indiana, and Ned Hollis is an interesting case to review. I’ll be staying at the campsite out near the river. I hear that it is a nice campground for a local camping spot. I plan on getting a place in Hamilton City or somewhere near there later. Nice to meet you.” Dan Green jumped from the top step to the sidewalk three steps below and got into his car. “I hope to see you again, soon,” he smiled as he opened the car door and slipped inside. The car sped off down the street with its year tailgate bobbing up and down from the weight inside the back of the vehicle.

  They stood and watched as he turned the corner back to the downtown and out toward the river. Donna was the first to speak, “Do you believe any of that, Glynda? What do you think? Is he really researching interesting cases? This sounds like a load of B.S. to me.”

  “I don’t know, Donna. It’s possible. I guess. Why Ned Hollis, though? That seems like a not-so-big case.”

  “How does he even know about Hollis? I think we better head out to the river tonight and see what we can find out. What do you think?”

  “It seems like you’re dragging me into another ‘adventure’ and I don’t want no part of it,” Glynda replied as she crossed her arms. “Maybe he’ll hook up with Trevor if he takes a wrong turn, he’ll find him and not the campsite. He’s also driving by Lori’s place,” then turning to Rodney, “You didn’t tell him where Lori Bell lives, did you?”

  Rodney firmly shook his head ‘no’ and from the back of the house came Evan with an armful of groceries and beer.

  “Hey, Glynda. I just got back from the town and picked up a few things,” he stopped when he saw Donna. “Hey there, Donna. How’s it going? Hey, when we going out to the river to see Trevor?”

  Donna and Glynda turned to each other and then to Evan. Donna was the first to speak. “We will probably just go and see Lori Bell and Trevor at Lori’s place. We talked to her today and the river resort is a big mess with construction and all that and the road is not passable at this point to get out there. Also, Evan. Remember when we were in Oklahoma and I was inside the restaurant paying and you talked to a guy outside who was from Arizona?”

  “Yeah, I remember him, why?” Evan set his grocery bag down on the back of the couch and gave Donna a perplexed expression. “Why’re you askin,’ Donna?”

  “This is weird, Evan, but Glynda and I saw his car in the downtown by the courthouse square and then—then he showed up here at the house.”

  “Huh? That’s weird. What’s he doing in Burgenton?”

  Donna proceeded to tell Evan Dan Green’s story and the part about studying cases for law school. “And get this, Evan. He said he is staying at the campsite out by the river. Does any of this make sense to you? It sounds like a bunch of bull crap to me.”

  Glynda nodded in agreement and Rodney piped in, “He seem like a nice guy to me, Donna.”

  “Wait a second, it sounds fishy to me. I talked to him on the road and he seemed nice enough. He did ask some questions and I told him it was Indiana we was headin’ to and not anything specific. What’re you thinkin’ Donna? Evan asked with a hint of worry. What about you, Glynda?”

  “I don’t know, Evan, but I don’t like it. Glynda’s right. This gold is causing us more trouble,” Donna answered and shook her head. “Maybe—maybe we just leave things alone, but I’m curious about Dan Green. Glynda, what do you say, should we head out there tonight?”

  Glynda glanced at Evan and Rodney, then Evan asked, “what’re you planning on doin’? Maybe I should go with you girls for protection.”

  Donna was amused at the thought for the last three years, she felt as if she were the protector and there had been more to fear in the vastness of the high desert than what is to fear in the surroundings of Camden County. A vision of Ned Hollis cornering her as a teen and throwing her to the ground in an attempt to kill her flashed across her mind, and the humorous notion vacated her head. “Sure, Evan. It’s not a bad idea if we all three go. Make sure you bring the 22. Glynda, who’ll watch your boys tonight?” The three of them looked at Rodney.

  “Aw right.” Rodney sighed and dropped his shoulders. “Maybe Mom can hep too,” he offered as he directed his attention to the living room where Bo and Brian were wrestling with each other on the shag carpet.

  Poor Glynda, Donna thought; everything she did not expect to happen has happened, as Donna remembered Glynda’s childhood desire to grow up and not have any boys.

  “Thanks, Rodney.” Donna patted him on the shoulder. “You have grown up so much and you are really a big help. Say, why don’t I take you guys to dinner tonight? We can all grab some pizza?”

  They all agreed, and Glynda asked if 5:00 was okay because the boys needed to eat early.

  “Sure, Donna said, “That’s fine. I’ll be back a little before 5:00 and she headed out the front door and around the corner to her mother’s house.

  Chapter Seven

  The Pizza Spot was located on the opposite side of the town square to the north of the old Opera House. They all walked up the alley with the boys and Rodney in tow, talking about how the town had changed and recalling memories of their childhood. The darkness of the alley towered over them as they moved between the two brick buildings with their second stories and rounded the corner to the sidewalk that rolled past the Opera House and cattycornered to it was the restaurant, abuzz with the nightlife of Burgenton with both adults and high school kids frequenting the place.

  Inside the restaurant, Donna had a flashback from the previous decade as the interior had not changed. The same checker covered table cloths were on the six tables that lined the walls. They took up two tables and Donna went up to the counter and ordered, noticing The Pizza Spot had secured a liquor license, she decided that after the run-in with Dan Green, she deserved a beer. She ordered two more: one for Glynda and Evan and soft drinks for the boys.

  Back at the table, she distributed the drinks and discussed everything but the gold and Dan Green. Glynda talked about her marriage and as she provided details of her husband’s departure, her boys’ anger and confusion, and her depression, Donna watched Evan, who had tears welling in his eyes. Glynda didn’t notice his feelings, and continued her story. Finally Evan broke in, “Yeah, Glynda. It hurts real bad when you’re left behind. That’s been my life story. I sure am glad to have you two. Donna, you took me in like I was your brother and now Glynda, you too. We go back a long ways and there’s a lot we’ve been through together. You two guys’re my family now.” He raised his beer to the two of them and in a toast, “Here’s to friends who’re like family.”

  Donna agreed that the three of them had weathered a few storms together and Ned Hollis’s whirlwind year in Burgenton had left a barrage of damage to all of their lives, but they must persevere and keep going.

  Glynda agreed and she, Evan and Donna all toasted to determination and comradery. Donna lowered her glass and then lamented about the change in Lori Bell and that there really wasn’t a change in Trevor. “You know, you guys we are missing some of our comrades here. I don’t know what has happened to Lori. I can’t imagine how three years can alter a person so much. Trevor, well he was always a jerk. Evan, what do you think? We’ve never really discussed Trevor over the last three years. It seems like I was so busy with the internship, my thesis, working, taking care of our lives that you and I never really talked about what knowing Trevor was like.”

  “Yeah, you’re right, Donna, but I didn’t think he was much to talk about. I sure did like gettin’ those letters from your mom and hearin’ about home. Ya know, we talked about stuff in Burgenton—who’s died, who had babies, got married, retired from the high school, but never about Trevor or Lori Bell. We did talk about you, Glynda,” Evan said with
a smile, “It was all good stuff and we was sure worried about you with the boys and stuff, but we knew your brothers was around to help out. Any way Donna, when Trevor came to me and asked me to live out in the woods in that old horse trailer where you and Glynda found Thelma and almost died from that bastard, Hollis, well I was out workin’ on the Bradford farm and the season was almost over and I’d have to find another place, so hey, it sounded good. My own place out in the woods. I really liked it there.” Evan spoke thoughtfully. “Then we had to dig up the floor for you know,” he peeked over his shoulder to check that no one was listening, “and well then that’s when I found out Trevor was a jerk. I gave him the benefit of the doubt earlier on when he took me to eat at the Legion once a week and bought me beer and jerky. I thought he was bein’ real kind, but now I think he might have just been takin advantage of me.” Evan dropped his chin to his chest. “I was a fool, Donna. I told Trevor before we left that I’d sell him my portion of the gold down the road. He told me to trust him and that he’s like my brother,” Evan took a swig from the bottle, “’cept I never had a brother,” he smiled wistfully, “so guess I don’t have to do that now do I? He said that livin’ with you Donna was a mistake and you’d corrupt me, but naw, I’ve already been corrupted. I lost my chance to be a kid ‘cause of that Hollis bastard.” Evan shook his head and Donna reached over to pat him on the back while Glynda reached across the table and grabbed his hand.

  “It’s okay, Evan. The three of us will stick together, right Donna?” Glynda was firm and with her other hand she reached for Donna’s and squeezed it. We will do the right thing and defend what we think is right. It don’t matter what other people think. Doing the right thing is the best way to live.”

  They all agreed. Rodney noticed the pizzas were ready and went up to the counter to get them and on the way back to the table, he noticed Dan Green’s car was parked outside on the other side of the street. “Hey Ginda, Donna, that Dan Gween is outside. Go check it out.” Rodney nodded with his head to the ponytailed man strolling down the street in front of the Pizza Spot.

  Donna jerked her head around and Glynda strained to see over Evan. “Oh crap, guys. Where is he going?” Donna asked. Her eyes followed Dan Green as he walked toward the Opera House. What do you think he’s doing, guys?” She jumped from her seat and turned toward the large window by the door.

  “Just stay put, Donna,” Evan said, “You don’t want to look for trouble. Let’s all just sit and have a nice supper together.”

  Donna could not relax throughout dinner and she could barely engage in the small-talk Evan and Glynda had started and maintained throughout the hour. After the time had passed and the pizzas had been devoured, the seven of them departed from the Pizza Spot and headed back toward home the way they had come, down the alley. The spring evening was refreshing with the slight coolness of a breeze filtering through the tepid temperature. The air was sweet and Donna could not appreciate it because her mind was on Dan Green. They passed the Opera House and it was locked up tight—not unsecure as it was fourteen years ago when the three girls had broken in on July 4th, but now it had a solid lock on the double doors and an alarm system, which according to the sticker on the door, was connected to the Burgenton police.

  The group turned to head down the alley. Donna had relaxed some after reassurance from Glynda and even Rodney, that Dan Green was nothing to worry about and he is probably what he claims to be. Even though she was apprehensive to believe their validations, she relaxed and enjoyed the freshness of the air and the sound of crickets chirping—something she had missed in the desert. It was Evan who heard the rustle down the alley to their left behind the building that housed the Opera House. “Shh...stop you all. I hear somethin’.”

  They froze in their steps and Glynda hushed her boys, who broke their usual mode of conduct and complied with their mother’s request, most likely sensing the tension in the adults. The businesses that lined the alley were closed for the night and no lights illuminated the view between the buildings where the alleys intersected.

  A clanking noise came from the alley to their left, behind the appliance store and the Opera House, and Donna and Evan motioned for the rest to move back into the alley where they had been walking. Donna peeked around the corner and squinted to get a view of what may have caused the noise. Suddenly a cat darted across her path and jumped into a dumpster not far in front of them. She breathed a sigh of relief and Evan chuckled a little then motioned behind him for the rest of the crew to follow.

  Reassured by the fact that her fear was getting the best of her, Donna relaxed as the group progressed to the end of the alley with Bo and Brian skipping and jumping behind them. “Hey Mom, lookie there,” Brian called as he spun around and pointed to the back of the Opera House. “The wall looks broken, see?” He said pointing in the direction of the back stairway that had been sealed when the Opera House had been refurbished.

  The adults stopped and focused on the direction in which Brian was pointing. He was right. The wall did seem to be broken. Donna was the first to dart to the crack in the building. It was a fine line where someone had taken a crowbar or chisel and carefully dug into the mortar to unseal the old door where over a hundred years ago, the performers entered and exited the theater on the narrow staircase to the stage. The rest of them quickly gathered behind her as Donna traced the damage with her finger and estimated the length was about two feet. With her face frowning with worry, Donna turned around, “Guys, I bet our Mr. Green was here,” she said crossing her arms, “I think we should let the police know. I’m surprised the alarm didn’t go off, but they probably didn’t connect it to the back wall of the stairway. I think we need to get back to your place, Glynda and give them a call.”

  “Why do you think it’s Green, Donna? It could’ve been any kid messin’ with it.” Evan asked, “Ya need to stop jumpin’ to conclusions.”

  “Wait, is his car still parked by the town square?” She quickly left the group and ran down the alley and peered around the corner. The parking spaces opposite the Pizza Spot were all empty and there was no sign of Dan Green. Donna yelled back to Glynda and Evan, “He’s gone.” And returning to the wall behind the Opera House, “Guys, let’s get back to your house, Glynda; call the cops, then we need to see about this guy. Something isn’t right.”

  It was a swift clip down the alley, past Donna’s house, and to Glynda’s home where inside, Glynda quickly dialed the Burgenton police. They were anxious as they waited less than ten minutes for the patrol car to pull up in front of the house. The officer was not anyone Donna or Evan knew, but Glynda seemed to know his name, “Hi Officer Thomas, we just have a concern with the Opera House. It looks like vandals may have hit the back wall. All of us were walking back from the Pizza Spot and one of my boys was playing around and noticed the wall behind the Opera House had a crack. I know that place has a story to it, and I also know that wall was built over the back staircase.”

  Officer Thomas, although new to Burgenton, was familiar with the Hollis case as it was still fresh in the crime journals of Camden County due to its sensational history and it was the only documented murder case in over forty years. He smiled at Glynda, “I’m familiar with the history and how you were part of it, Ms. Myer. What are your names sir and ma’am? I don’t know if I’ve seen you around Burgenton.”

  Remembering that three years in the annals of Burgenton was quite a while, Donna gave him her name and then Evan did the same.

  The cop appeared surprised to be in the company of Donna McNally and Glynda Myer and he continued, “Well, what brings you to town Ms. McNally and Mr. Miles?”

  Donna explained that her internship had ended and they had returned to their roots so Evan could settle down in Burgenton and she could have a base to search for a job in her field of social work.

  After a few more questions, the officer said he would check out the damage, and like Evan, said it was probably a result of some teen vandals. “We’ve had an increase in p
roperty damage lately. The kids have been out of school for a few weeks. The city is working on creating some social programs to decrease the crime among the city’s youth.”

  When Officer Thomas was gone, Glynda asked why no one mentioned Dan Green, and Donna replied with, “Why didn’t you mention him? You had as much of an opportunity as Evan and I did,” she smiled. “Well, what do you think? Should we head out to the river campsite and see if Dan Green is really there?”

  Glynda asked Rodney to babysit and with some hesitation, he agreed. Rodney admitted that the last time he got in a truck with Donna, he was six and they ended up almost dying because the police were chasing them, and he did not want to try for a second time.

  It was Donna, Glynda, and Evan who all walked around the corner and got into Donna’s truck. The lights were out in her mother’s house and Donna knew Carol McNally was in bed as she always was by 8:00 o’clock every night. There was no need for Donna to let her know she would be out late.

  They headed out of Burgenton through the town’s only stop light intersection and northwest past Lori Bell’s house toward the campsite by the river. The new concrete bridge that reached over the Tippecanoe made for a nice, smooth ride before they ascended the winding hill to the campground. At the crest, Donna turned off the headlights and she and Evan peered over the dash as Glynda reminded them to turn right or east at the next junctions. Their hearts beating hard in their chests, Donna navigated the gravel road with its pits and rutted dents. The campsites were sparsely positioned throughout the woods high above the river below. It was early in the season and few campers were settled for the night. The truck’s tall tires careened off the road and Donna deliberately steered it toward the most densely populated area. The campers on the other side of the grove of maples, pines and oaks were busy settling in for the night. Donna cut the ignition and the three of them sat and waited, scanning the campsites in front of them for any sign of a tan station wagon and a tall man with a ponytail.