Murder Mysteries

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  "Let's ride together. I'll call to make appointments with both her and Shirley Burger. After that we'll play in by ear with the search warrant. Also, what is happening with the kidnappers' demands?"

  "My captain is securing the funds in case we need them. Okay then, I'm on my way. Do I have time to eat breakfast before we leave Bandon?

  "Let's see when you get here and after I call for appointment times," said Stacy.

  First she called Sara Tweet and she had to leave a message on her voice mail. Shirley Burger she caught at home in Coquille. Only after some pressure did she agree to an interview. Ten o'clock was Shirley's time and Sara was not yet fixed.

  Dan called Stacy on his cell. "Hey Stacy, he's on the move towards Coquille. You want I should follow him?"

  "Yes, but don't let him see you. Keep well back and you know that road has places where you can see behind you for a few miles as it twists and turns."

  "Okay and I'll call later and report his movements," said an excited Officer Dan Swollow.

  Thirty minutes later Rory walked in just as Sara Tweet returned her call. She too was not happy but agreed to an eleven o'clock interview time.

  "We've time for your breakfast growing boy. I can't imagine how much it must have cost your parents to feed you," she said smiling at his handsome face.

  They crossed the street in a hurry as spring time, especially on a super day like today, brought out the yard workers and garden fanatics' at the store buying plants, seeds and all that goes with making your place nice looking after a long winter.

  "Why the heavy traffic," Rory asked as they sat down.

  "Spring time brings the hibernation dwellers out to take advantage of a short growing season."

  Stacy brought Rory into the picture about Phil Winters being in Cape Blanco from about eight to ten on the night Levers was murdered.

  "He'd our prime suspect at this point. If he states that when he left Dave Levers he was very much alive, would mean somebody was hiding in the bedroom that he didn't see. That hypothetical person could have left not long after without any seeing a car leaving behind Phil's pickup truck."

  Stacy ate her toast while Rory filled up on waffles and strawberries. Stacy said, "Who has the little girl and where is she?"

  "Didn't you say Dan is following Phil this morning? If so then maybe he'll lead us to her. I'm with you when you say there're other players in this game we don't know about just yet. But who could they be?"

  "Maybe that lawyer dude has some other sleaze ball associates involved with him. We need to get moving Tall Man. We're burning daylight," she said kiddingly.

  Just as they pulled into Coquille, Stacy's cell phone went off. She listened and then said, "Okay Dan, but be careful out there as a Bandon police car in Fairview is very noticeable. Locate and leave quickly. Word spreads like wildfire you know."

  Ironically, Shirley Burger didn't live very far from Sara Tweet. Shirley answered the door almost immediately. She nodded to both and then followed her into a small but attractive living room. Shirley sat on the edge of the old wooden arm rocker while the two detectives sat on a much newer sofa with an Indian blanket over it. Stacy came right to the point. "Dave Levers was murdered night before last." She let that sink in watching for the response.

  Stacy saw a thin white hand and arm rise to her neck as if a cold. She was looking at Stacy, but Stacy could see she was staring right through her. She started blinking as a tear rolled down her pure white cheek. She wiped it off with her hand and said, "I knew it wasn't forever kind of thing. He treated me well. He was a gentleman at all times. I realized not very long after we'd become acquainted he was a silver tongue shyster from the big city. Also, he was a very tender lover. Anyway, it's not a shock to me that somebody would take his life someday. My mother would not be proud of me, but at my age, forty six, few men are available for a single woman."

  "Sorry to ask, but where were you night before last between say eight pm and midnight," asked Stacy.

  I've a friend in Empire who has been raving about a new restaurant in Baldwin. I went to see her around five pm and returned home here about eleven. I went to bed and that's it."

  "Do you own a hand gun Ms. Burger," asked Stacy.

  "Yes I do. My husband, oh--- such a long time ago—gave me a pistol. We went on a picnic up 42 to Remote. We found a place and he showed me how to use it. It's in my night stand, I guess. I've not seen it for a long while. Would you like to see it?"

  "Yes, please. I'll go with you. Let me handle as it's been awhile since you used it. It's safer that way Ms. Burger," said Stacy following her to her bedroom.

  Her bedroom was neat as a pin, similar to the rest of the house. Shirley opened her small night stand and stood back so Stacy could fetch the pistol. A thorough search for the pistol came up empty. No pistol and then Shirley became scared. "I've no idea where it is detective. I can't tell you the last time I saw it."

  "Come back into the living room Ms Burger. Did you and Glen levers sleep together in your bedroom," asked Stacy.

  She was visibly shaken by what was taking place. She said, "Yes, many times, but not since he was released from prison."

  "Have you ever been to Cape Blanco and from there to a house off Airport Road," asked Rory jumping in to keep the flow going.

  "Not since my husband and I had a picnic there twenty years ago," said Shirley.

  "Okay Ms. Burger. That's all for now. Please search high and low for that hand gun and if you find it, call me," said Stacy. "One more question—do you always lock your doors when you leave the house?"

  "Sometimes I forget. I've nothing in here worth much. I guess in answer to your question, I rarely lock my doors."

  They left with Stacy wondering if someone, like Phil Winters came visiting with orders from Glen Levers to take the pistol.

  At Sara Tweets house she was dressed for house work, it appeared. A frosty welcome it was, but the two detectives could care less. Rory jumped in, as was planned and said, "Where were you night before last between six pm and midnight, Ms. Tweet."

  "Let's see now. I'll have to check my appointment book," she said sarcastically. "I was home here all day and night. I did walk down to the supermarket for some snacks while I watched a movie on TV. Why do you ask?"

  "Dave Levers was murdered on the night in question," Rory said ending the statement so it would sink in for observation of knowledge. Stacy saw nothing but a frozen face looking at Rory. She never moved an inch. It was quite remarkable, she thought. I wonder how the woman does it. Can she really suppress her feeling so well?

  "Did you murder him Mrs. Tweet," asked Rory.

  She broke her reverie and said, "Why would I kill someone I love dearly. I knew he played around with other women, but when he was with me, I never felt there was anyone else but me that he loved. He told me one time that he thought his life would end early, but then what is early. No, I didn't kill him."

  "Do you own a hand gun," asked Rory.

  "No I don't," said a voice getting stronger as the interview went along. "Where and how was he killed; if I might ask," said Sara.

  "He was shot in Cape Blanco," said Rory. "That's all for now. Don't leave town. With no alibi that you can prove, that makes you a suspect Ms. Tweet."

  As they started driving towards Coos Bay, Stacy's cell went off. It was Dan not far away. "Phil stayed at one location; I've marked it to locate on a map, for an hour. Then he left and is now driving towards Bandon. I'll follow him all day long."

  "Okay Dan. I'll see you late the afternoon at the station," said Stacy.

  Rory asked Stacy to call Ben, as he was busy driving. Stacy listened and after hanging up said, "He's on the way with a team of CSI. Also a call came from the kidnappers asking if the money was ready. Gerri was instructed to say yes. The kidnapper hung up without comment."

  Stacy thought, even though the little girl was mentally retarded, she must miss her mother and father. Its one thing to know what is going on, but it's another to be a
lways in the dark not knowing where you are or what is happening and who these strangers are. The really sad thing was that few kidnap victims return alive. Her last thought, as they turned onto 7 Devils Road, was about the fact she was beginning to feel the urge to reproduce. In her book, to have children meant marriage. Her mother and father were her teachers of how life is supposed to be lived. She'd have none of that single mother business working and raising her children without a mate.

  "Hey, earth to Stacy. Are you with me here or in dream land? We're almost there," said a smiling Rory. Stacy looked at him thinking he was mostly what she was looking for in a man. "There's Ben and the team standing at the gate. This should prove interesting."

  The gate was locked. A giant pair of bolt cutters took care of the lock in a hot second. The gate was swung open and all drove down to the cabin about a quarter mile away. All three vehicles stopped at the small driveway. The cabin looked deserted. Ben had been the lead car, but he stopped short to investigate any evidence of recent marks in the gravel. Stacy and Rory stood back watching as the team tried the door and it too was locked with a hasp and padlock. The cutter was used and the door swung open letting out stale air that also smelled musty from wet mold.

  Stacy and Rory entered for a look around. Someone turned the lights on. Apparently he left the power connected all the time. A TV sat against the wall. Stacy turned it on and soon cartoons came on. She thought, few adults watch cartoons. A pillow lay on the floor. One of the CSI bagged it up for hair evidence. Stacy went to the kitchen. There was some recent evidence of dishes that had not collected much dust in the dish drainer; milk in the refer that hadn't turned yet; and bread that was in the freezer with a date on it like the milk. Indeed someone had been here and recently.

  "I think the little girl was here and they moved to another location," said Stacy to Rory.

  "No doubt about it. But the sixty four dollar question is: Where did they take her," said Ben.

  While the search and wondering where the kidnap victim was, Dan was following the old pickup truck of Phil Winters. He was careful staying a few miles behind him. After crossing the dike, Dan left the Coquille bridge, staying far behind. His mark passed through Riverton and a few miles beyond Phil turned left on Lampa Lane. When Dan arrived at the intersection of 42 and Lampa Lane, he stopped and watches the blinking red indicator travel down the Lane and then it appeared he turned off to the right again onto Lampa Creek Road. Dan continued to watch as he dug out his map of the area. Sure enough, he was slowly driving on Lampa Creek Road. A few minutes later he stopped. Dan took a GPS reading and drove back towards Riverton to find a place to stop and hide. He called Stacy.

  "You say he's off Lampa Lane onto Lampa Creek Road," asked Stacy.

  "Yes he is. I'm back towards Riverton waiting for him to return to the highway."

  "Stick with him like glue," said Stacy. She hung up and told Rory and Ben what Phil Winters was doing. Ben called the court house and with his silver tongue, got a records person to do a property search of the Lampa Creek Road.

  "She'll call me back soonest she finds the info," said Ben.

  Stacy was thinking about both the murder of Levers and the kidnapping. It seemed to her, they'd forgotten to ask Ron Snively about any plane traffic recently. We need to go back and see him, thought Stacy as Ben's cell went off.

  "He listened and then hung up, grinning. He said, "Off Lampa Creek Road is a large old house that sits on a hill. It's owned by Rolf Peters. I think we got lucky or maybe Phil rented it for his used car business. We can't jump to conclusions."

  "We need a covert look around after he leaves and or better yet, when it's dark," said Rory.

  "Let's think about it and drive to Bandon for lunch," said Stacy.

  "I've never heard a better idea yet," said Rory seeing Stacy roll her lovely blue eyes.

  They left the CSI team to gather all the evidence that indeed a young child had been there recently. The cabin was owned by the lawyer from Portland. The house where Dave Levers was found dead in was owned by Rolf Peters. The house where Phil Winters was parked on Lampa Creek was owned by Rolf Peters. At lunch all three agreed it was time to visit Rolf Peters. However, Stacy wanted to see Ron Snively so she left the interview up to Rory and Ben. She'd go to Cape Blanco after lunch.

  -Eleven-

  Before she left for Cape Blanco, she went to see her father the chief. He was waiting for her. "I saw you over at the restaurant," he said playing with his pencil. Update me as I can see the look on your face that things are popping like corn in a microwave."

  "I'm not sure 'things are popping' but maybe they are. She told him about Dan following Phil; the two interviews' the search warrant and it's finding; and the reason she was going down to see Ron Snively at the airport. He rose from his chair and stared out the window upon a lovely spring day.

  He said, "Be careful if you go up Lampa Creek. If for example, Phil Winters is involved in the murder of both the judge and his boss Dave Levers, he'll go down in flames. I know that old house on the hill with a giant barn. He'd have the high ground. Rolf Peters was probably just clipping coupons with rental money on his properties, but who knows for sure. The two women are certainly high on anybody's suspect list. I suggest you check our local airport for traffic from Portland just to make sure all bases are covered. Would you like some company going with you?"

  "You want to go Chief Foreham," said a shocked Stacy.

  "I'm tired of playing with my pencil detective. Flo can cover for me. Let's go and maybe we'll do some father daughter bonding on the way," he said with a small chuckle. He grabbed a wind breaker and out the door they went. Flo was smiling as usual. Now she would jump on the phone and gossip her head off. The news of Dave Levers being murdered would hit the papers today.

  As the two Foreham's drove down the road, her father said, "Nice wheels girl. Can you imagine what I drove thirty years ago?"

  "I'm sure it was just a step up from a Model A father," said Stacy.

  "How'd you guess? Seriously, though how much do you think technology has helped in catching the bad guys," asked her father.

  "A lot. I suppose DNA is the big thing we can use for proof. CSI personnel are highly trained with the ability to use scientific equipment. It's not far off the CSI crime shows we see on TV. Of course computers have narrowed the time frame of seeking information. However, the one-on-one is like a war: it takes soldiers to end a battle or a war on the ground. Same with us. I could call Ron and probably get what I needed, but a tiny bit of information might be forgotten if I used a phone. However, the bad guys are smarter today than yesteryear. Not smarter, but more clever, I guess."

  "Stacy my daughter, I'm thinking about retiring soon. Not tomorrow, but not so far in the future either. I've seen you in action and lord knows you are good at what you do. Bandon can't hold on to you forever. Soon a white knight will ride by and pick you up for his wife. I'd like to be in the neighbor hood with grandkids to cook for."

  "It's a little early for me to think about a family dad. I'm thinking in five years is about right. I love the small town living and don't much care for big cities. However, if I'm to pursue a career in homicide investigation or serious crimes, I'll probably have to give in to a bigger city than Bandon," she said laughing.

  "He was laughing too. He said, "Like a lot of retired folks, Arizona or thereabout seems like a good place to go. I'm just thinking out loud Stacy. I'm loving everyday you're here with me at the house and work. Since your mother passed on the hole left is like a bomb crater. It's been a blessing you've come back to bridge that emptiness. What I need is a hobby. But what hobby is beyond me. Like Smiling Sam, he loves fishing, but hates to eat them. I like to fish, but once in awhile is fine with me. You know, back in high school, I loved wood working class. I was pretty good at it. I'm thinking of taking the garage and do a bit of remodel for a workshop of maybe myrtle wood. What do you think?"

  "I like it and I've some ideas that younger folks would love to have
made. Back east I had pictures of our coastal products and lots of raves were heard. We could go on the internet and see what happens. Doesn't cost much. Go for it dad. I'm with you. I like the idea of merging agates with myrtle wood like that guy down at the store off Beach Loop Rd. Rory and I could go to Agate Beach for beach combing."

  "Yes, he's got a bad case of Stacy on his brain. He's seems like a nice guy. You two work well together it would seem," said father.

  "When we first met, he blew it big time. He looks down on women thinking men are a notch above my gender. He saw that I was no man's dummy and he had to step back and take a long look at himself. As you know father, there's love and lust. Most young men are lusty and ready to toss any female onto a pile of hay. Since our first time, Rory has made a lot of strides to redeem him. But, he's still a ways to go before I accept his maturity into a man such as you father. I'm no expert, but I want a man who meets me half way. In other words, I can wait for him or he can wait for me."

  "You know my dear daughter; your thinking is beyond the age that you are by the calendar."

  "Young people today are better educated father. Having seen half the married people divorce and then remarry, only to have that one fail too. I'm not blaming men, mind you but it seemed to a lot of us young folks, it's just too easy to throw in the towel. A lot of us don't need that kind of grief in our lives. I'd rather live alone that live in a house full of tension and stress."

  "Your mother was identical to you Stacy. She wouldn't hold anything back. Both of us would get whatever we had on our chests off before the stress factor raised our blood pressure. However, what works for one, doesn't mean it works for all. I like the idea of living together before the altar is good for me. Nobody replaces the original person in a marriage that is solid and then for reasons unknown, we lose half of the team. I'll someday run across someone who I'll like and she'll like me. Well, it looks like we're here. I've had a good time talking Stacy."

  "Hi again Mr. Snively," said Stacy as they first saw him standing outside watching a plane take off. He and Chief Foreham shook hands warmly like old friends should: both hands together making a total of four hands coming together.