A Solitude Noel

by Saundra McKee

  Fannie nodded. “That was hard, but the drinking just got worse and was even tougher. It’s really why my one brother ended up getting shunned. He couldn’t take living in our family anymore. It’s why I stayed in touch with him. It wasn’t his fault. My father passed away never acknowledging the pain he’d caused.”

  “I’m not sure it’s anyone’s fault. Your dad was probably in such pain from watching your mother die. My dad’s father was an alcoholic. I think we both know what the bottom line is. We’ve got to ‘let go and let God’, and realize that their alcoholism may be a factor in a lot of the things that we say and do.”

  Fannie nodded. “So do you have a list of possible suspects? I have a few ideas I’d like to run by you, but I need to get home. Eli likes dinner at five.”

  Dana smiled. “Me too. The older we get, the more Larry and I enjoy those early bird specials. Why don’t we meet at the bakery in the morning and see what we can come up with.”

  Fannie smiled back at Dana. “You know your friendship is one of God’s best gifts to me.”

  “Right back at you,” said Dana. “God is good.”

  “All the time,” replied Fannie.

  Chapter 5

  Larry had the table set when Dana got back to her fairly new Victorian style home. It was built on the site of her family homestead.

  “It’s a good night to sit by the fire. Why don’t we watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’? I never tire of watching Jimmy Stewart movies.”

  “That’s a great idea,” said Dana, planting a kiss on Larry’s cheek while picking up Shalom. Did I ever tell you that these bowls came from Jimmy Stewart’s father’s hardware store in Indiana? I often hung out there when I was in college hoping Jimmy might be paying a visit. Never had any luck.”

  Larry laughed. “My wife the stalker. Hey this soup is wonderful. Want to hear about my day?”

  Dana spread butter on the warm wheat bread. “Well yeah. What have you been up to?”

  “Talking to the police. A detective Divins is heading up the investigation. They really want to track down those reindeer. I wasn’t much help. I really didn’t speak with them and don’t recall what kind of vehicle they got out of or back into after the sleigh ride. Town was pretty busy that day with lots of holiday tourists. There was a Santa and elves and I imagine a lot of folks just assumed the reindeer were a part of that bunch. They seem to think that one of the reindeer managed to lace the cookie that they gave to Geoff with some kind of poison. Of course they’re holding back a lot of details. They combed all over the big sleigh for evidence too.”

  “This soup is good. Did you talk much with Geoff that day?”

  “Not until he got sick. The snow was pretty deep and I was focusing on giving everyone a nice ride. There were some deep ruts by the end of the day, and folks were really bouncing around. Everyone was in a good mood. Mandy was leading the group in singing ‘Jingle Bells’. It was cold, so once we got to the bridge, people gathered around one of the two burn barrels with their hot chocolate and snacks.”

  “Did you notice anything special about how the reindeer walked, talked, gestured?”

  Larry shook his head. “You’re sounding like Detective Divins. I wish you had been there. You pick up on details better than I do. It was difficult to even determine the height or weight of the reindeer, let alone their gender. I wish you could have seen them. They were kind of cute, murder was the last thing on my mind.”

  Dana jumped up. “I don’t believe I forgot this. I can see them. We’ll need to share this with the police too, but I want to take a look first. I’d read that some of the isolated bridges around the country have had problems with arson or just kids leaving garbage and graffiti, so before I left on Saturday, I set up one of our little security cameras inside one of the wreaths. We should have some photographs of those reindeer on the disk.”

  Larry was on his feet and on his way out the door. “I’ll take the snowmobile. Be right back.”

  Dana had the desktop computer on and waiting when Larry returned. They scanned through hundreds of shots until they got near the end. There were three fair quality photos of the reindeer. In one, the male antlered deer was clearly handing Geoff Gruber a sugar cookie.

  “I’m going to print out all the photographs from that last group of the day. Let’s see if and how the reindeer interacted with anyone else in the group or if anyone else did anything suspicious. Then we can call Detective Divins.

  Chapter 6

  The detective arrived at Dana and Larry’s home by eight p.m. Dana was taken aback by how fresh faced and innocent he looked for a state police detective. He was likely in his late thirties, tall and lanky with bright blue eyes, wire rimmed glasses and small white teeth and a thick head of graying hair combed straight back. “It’s an honor to meet you, Dana. These photos may provide us with a big break. I’d hoped that there might be some surveillance cameras in your downtown area, but there doesn’t seem to be any. The town really should invest in some. I know the old school detectives would chide you and your friends for interfering with this investigation. I have a different philosophy and welcome your ideas. You know the area and the victim better than most. Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated.”

  Dana looked stunned. “Thank you, I think. You’re not just using reverse psychology, are you?”

  The detective chuckled. “Not at all. I grew up in this area and have followed you and Fannie and Sharon and your successes in nabbing bad guys over the years. I think you have a lot of dumb luck, but also know that people will confide things to you that they’ll never tell the police. On top of that, I know that the three of you are honorable and honest people whom I can trust.”

  After the detective left, Dana plopped down on the couch. “Was I dreaming, or did that guy actually indicate that he liked our sleuthing? Will wonders ever cease? Wait till I tell Fannie. I’ll have to email Sharon. You know, it’s nice to feel appreciated. I really like Detective Divins and have a feeling that he’ll solve this case without much of our help.”

  Larry was grinning from ear to ear. “I figured you’d like the guy. Kind of refreshing from the usually straight laced macho types. He grew up on a farm not far from here. He’s very sharp…that includes knowing how to handle Ph.Ds like you.”

  “Dana nodded. Let’s watch that movie now. I think I’ll sleep better knowing the investigation is in good hands.”

  Chapter 7

  The next morning, Dana headed out in the snow to meet Fannie at the local bakery. Fannie was already seated and motioned Dana back to her table. “My treat. Hope you’re in the mood for berry explosion scones. It’s the latest.”

  “Mmmm, good choice. Let me catch you up. I want to tell you about the detective on the case and show you some photos. So what have you got?”

  Fannie said, “I started making a list of all the people we’ve helped bring to justice over the years, those who had indictments brought against them, sent to prison or made plea deals with Geoff’s office. To be honest, I got overwhelmed. Of course, most of them are still in prison, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t have someone working for them on the outside. There’s Joan Lambert who ran down those Mormon Missionaries, our legislator who hired Larry French to kill James Walker and Daniel over the exposure of their marijuana operation. Scott Harper was charged with first degree murder for killing Geoff’s mother Lynn and of course, Geoff’s sister Caroline is doing time for killing Nancy Charming and trying to frame Sharon. It’s difficult to know where to even begin.”

  “I agree. The police have the resources to follow up on the hundreds of people Geoff helped bring to justice. They have all kinds of data bases these days. We can probably be most useful by talking to people who knew Geoff here in Solitude. My gut tells me there’s a local connection and that the motive for his death was personal.”

  Fannie nodded. “Me too. Mandy Turk dropped by the greenhouse to buy some greens yesterday. She and Geoff were close friends. She’s having a hard time de
aling with his loss, but wants to still have a good Christmas for her kids. I guess Geoff’s wife is in bad shape too. Mandy says she can’t eat or sleep. She always feared something like this would happen. She had wanted Geoff to go into private practice, but he loved what he was doing in the D.A.’s office.”

  “Did she have any hunches as to who could be responsible?”

  “Well she said that, according to Geoff’s wife, he was putting in very long hours. There were some goings on that he seemed deeply concerned about. His wife Val said that his laptop is missing. She thinks it might have been stolen from their car when they were on the sleigh ride.”

  “Did Mandy have any idea of what was on it?”

  “Just some speculation. Mandy said that Geoff had recently been asking her a lot about Islam and the Middle East. I guess she teaches world religions at the high school and has done some in depth studies on the Muslim faith.”

  “I can’t imagine what Islam has to do with this area, can you?”

  “Well Mandy said that a couple years ago, the FBI arrested a Muslim guy from this area for inciting terrorism over the Internet. She wasn’t positive, but got the impression that Geoff was looking into the possibility that there might be a terrorist cell in our area planning an attack on civilians.”

  Dana looked shocked. “In our area? That seems like a stretch. Are we talking about bombs?”

  “Mandy didn’t think so, although Geoff didn’t give her a lot of details. I think he feared more some kind of germ warfare. Supposedly there’s some deadly disease that’s been traced to bats in the Middle East. Mandy said it’s already killed at least a thousand people world wide that we’re aware of. It begins as flu like symptoms, then goes to pneumonia, then death in some people. Both Mandy and Geoff’s wife Val think he was gathering information and planned to share it with the FBI very soon.”

  “Wow, that could explain a lot. It’s difficult to imagine jihadists in peaceful little Solitude, but who knows. Maybe members of the cell feared an indictment and decided to kill him before he could act. Dressing as reindeer would be the perfect cover. I’ll pass that on to Detective Divins. Let’s see if we can see anything in these photographs.”

  Both women gazed closely at the printed photos. “Look at their feet,” said Fannie. “It looks like they’re wearing men’s brown workboots. I’d guess sizes 11 or 12. Of course they could be oversized, but if not, we’re likely looking at two men. Maybe the police got some boot prints. They seem to be handing all kinds of cookies out to the other people on the sleigh ride, but they’re clearly focusing on Geoff. Notice how they’re looking at him even when they aren’t close to him.”

  Dana nodded. “Maybe it was because he was ill, but you’re probably right. There was likely a third person who stole Geoff’s laptop out of his car back in town. Maybe someone saw something there. You’d think someone as smart as Geoff would back up his data on a thumb drive or a cloud or something. I imagine the police will check all of that out. Detective Divins said that they’d have these photographs of the reindeer put out in the media to see if someone recognizes the outfits. They were likely purchased online. How many full sized reindeer costumes can there be?”

  Fannie smiled, “Likely more than we think. I think they look kind of creepy. I’m surprised that they didn’t frighten the children.”

  “Yeah, I think so too. Maybe they called the kids by name or something. We need to talk to some of the others who were on the sleigh ride. Someone could have heard them say something that would help us narrow the field. Why don’t we stop by the parsonage? I need to get some boxes out of the attic for the hanging of the greens this Sunday.”

  Pastor Mitchell Roberts was in his office and motioned the two women in. With his short cropped hair and bearing, he reminded Dana of a military man. “I was wondering when you two would show up. It’s like I told that detective, we were all having such a nice ride and singing for joy that day. I figured you and Larry might have even hired someone to dress up as the reindeer. They sang along and acted silly. I think they asked the kids their names and what they wanted for Christmas. Then they helped pass out cookies and pranced around the covered bridge. It’s hard to believe they took Geoff’s life.”

  Fannie looked thoughtful. “Did you notice anything about their eyes? That’s seems to be the only part of their bodies that were exposed.”

  “Now that you mention it, Fannie, I did. They both had very similar liquid dark brown eyes. Seemed like what a reindeer might actually have.”

  Reverend Roberts called his wife at the parsonage saying that Fannie and Dana had hoped to ask her a few questions. Linda Roberts was a tall and attractive woman in her late forties. She was a Roman Catholic and didn’t participate in the many activities at the Methodist Church to the degree that many pastors wives had in the past. She often spent time helping out in her older sister’s candy shop that had opened a year earlier in Solitude. She met Fannie and Dana at the front door smiling, although they were surprised to see her using a cane.

  “It’s good to see you. I slipped and fell on the ice a couple weeks ago and messed up my knee if you’re wondering about the cane. It’s healing. I have no doubt that you’ll get to the bottom of this horrible death. I have the tea kettle on, and I’ve set out some of our tiger’s eye fudge. Please have a seat. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back.”

  Dana and Fannie looked around the modestly decorated living room. There were photographs of the couple’s three children who looked to be in their twenties. An undecorated tree set in the corner near an old fashioned upright piano.

  Linda poured tea, smiling at her guests. “I keep thinking back to that sleigh ride and wish I could come up with something useful. I sat beside Geoff on the way out to the covered bridge. I could tell he was under the weather, but never expected anything like this. Their children are adorable. Very active, but so cute.”

  Dana asked, “Did he express any concerns to you about anyone on the sleigh?”

  Linda shook her head. “No he seemed amused by the reindeer and was telling his children some things about reindeer. He seemed to have no idea of what was in store for him.”

  Fannie asked, “Did you notice anything unusual going on once you arrived at the covered bridge?”

  Linda looked thoughtful. “Well the reindeer were passing out cookies and I thought I’d have rather picked out my own. You never know where their hands or in this case hooves have been. I did notice one thing and probably should mention it to the police. Geoff seemed tired and sat down. I noticed that Mandy Turk’s husband, Dave, brought him some hot chocolate. I watch plenty of detective shows on television and think if Geoff was poisoned, it could have also been in his drink. Not that I think Dave would do such a thing.”

  Fannie nodded. “That makes sense. Unfortunately we used cardboard cups that were tossed in the fire, so any evidence would be gone. I’ve wondered how the murderer knew that Geoff would be on the sleigh on Sunday. It’s not like we sold advance tickets.”

  Linda sighed, “Perhaps they’d been following Geoff and waiting for the opportunity. It’s just so heartbreaking. Such a fine young man and with the holidays here, it’s even more painful. I keep looking at that tree, but can’t bring myself to decorate it. The entire community seems so sad. We’ve had several losses this year.”

  Dana nodded. “Will your children be home for Christmas?”

  Linda replied, “No, we’ll take a few days to visit them after Christmas. The pastor is so busy over the holidays, he barely has time for family, and the kids really don’t know Solitude. To be honest, they think it’s pretty dull. They’re all city dwellers and involved with their careers and families.”

  “This fudge is delicious,” said Fannie. “I’ve got to stop by your sister’s shop and get some for Eli. He has a real sweet tooth.”

  Fannie and Dana said they needed to head to their respective homes to catch up on household chores and prepare dinner. Before departing they chatted outside the p
arsonage. “I think Linda raises a good point,” mused Fannie. “I hope the police haven’t focused on the reindeer to the exclusion of the others on that sleigh ride.”

  “I doubt they’d do that,” said Dana. “The costumes just seem like the perfect cover. And when it comes to a district attorney, there are so many people with motive. I wish Sharon were here. She always gives us a different perspective. Talk to you tomorrow. Why don’t we meet at the quilt shop at ten? Doris may have some ideas too.”

  Chapter 8

  Shalom greeted Dana at the door and excitedly led her to the large tree that Larry had set up in front of the large bay window in the living room. Larry had his feet propped up on the coffee table trying to untangle a stubborn string of lights.

  Dana plopped down beside him. “That’s a beautiful tree. What is it, about nine feet tall! I was thinking about having some friends in for a decorating party, but it doesn’t seem right now.”

  Larry nodded. “Everything seems to be a lot more subdued in town. I do love the aroma of a fresh cut tree though. I got it at Fannie and Eli’s green house. They have some beauties. I picked up some greens and wreaths too. They’re out on the deck. Maybe decorating will take your mind off Geoff’s death.”

  Dana nodded. “The memorial service will be difficult. Our pastor was working on his remarks today. I think it starts at four tomorrow at the church followed by a dinner. I don’t see how we’ll get everyone in our little church basement after the service.”

  The phone rang and Dana was pleased to hear it was Sharon calling from South Carolina. Dana caught her up on all that she and Fannie had learned. She wasn’t surprised to hear that Sharon and Bob had been making their own inquiries. As a former state policeman, Bob still had contacts in law enforcement and always had information the public wasn’t privy to.

  “They think the poison was something called ricin,” said Sharon. “I looked it up on the Internet. I guess it’s found in castor oil beans, and an amount the size of a grain of salt can be lethal. I can’t believe they think it ended up on one of Fannie’s sugar cookies!”