“Coffee?” He asked.
“Yes please,” Haley said.
“Yeah, I'll have a cup,” Marcus said as Beau poured two mugs full.
He carried the first mug to Haley before turning and handing the other to Marcus, who eyed him carefully. He walked over and picked his blue, green, and silver SKU mug and poured it full.
“Bingo! Prints lifted off of the glass and the door knob are Tackett's. Blood type matches Sara Devlin and Tackett. She's A-Positive and he is B-Negative,” Haley said excitedly.
Beau walked over to the telephone.
“Good morning Chet,” he said, then listened. “Yes, it was a fine evening and thank you again,” Beau said and listened again. “Yes, sir, but the reason for my call is that you need to call Toby. We need arrest warrants for Bob Tackett and Smitty. We got the preliminary forensics back,” Beau said. “Yeah, I saw that too. Looks like maybe Smitty got to him. You've already issued the APB on Tackett? Great, we'll go pick up Smitty and see if he'll give us some information - but I ain't holding my breath,” Beau said. “I'll let you know as soon as we get back with him,” he said before he hung up the phone.
He looked up at Haley and Marcus.
“It won't take all three of us,” Beau said.
“No, somebody should be here in case we get a line on Tackett,” Haley agreed.
“But you don't want to stay,” Marcus said with a smile.
“I think that's an arrest we all want to make,” Beau said.
Before he could decide the phone rang and Haley grabbed it.
“CID, Garrison,” she said.
Her eyes immediately went wide.
“What?” She asked in total shock. “We're on our way,” Haley said hanging up the phone. “That was Uncle Chet. We don't need to look for Smitty,” she said.
Beau's Bronco rolled to a stop in front of Tackett's house on Greenbriar Road. Chet pulled in behind him as Marcus and Haley grabbed their crime kits and hopped out.
Beau looked and saw Kelly Edwards, an officer with more than 20 years of experience standing near the open garage door. Deputy Brandie Campbell stood by the open front door. The two had already sealed the house and yard off with yellow crime scene tape.
Beau headed toward Kelly and Chet followed. As Marcus and Haley walked toward the front door, he saw Haley stop and embrace Brandie, who was crying. Haley said a few words to her and Brandie nodded.
“I'll be there in a minute,” Beau called out just before he got to Kelly, who took his hat off and ran his fingers through his white hair.
“Tell me what you know,” Beau said.
Kelly shook his head.
“Not a lot to tell. I came by to do a security check after the neighbor across the street said the garage door had been open since before daylight. Y'all do know about the DUI call?” Kelly asked.
Both men nodded and he continued.
“I checked the door from the garage to the house and it was locked. I checked the front door and it was open. That's when I looked inside and saw the body,” Kelly said as Beau noticed his hand shaking.
“You know, I never much cared for the guy but...damn...this is as bad as I've ever seen. Somebody wanted to make sure he died,” Kelly said.
“You seal the area?” Beau asked.
“I started it then Brandie showed up and helped,” Kelly answered.
“Looks like you did a great job of preserving the crime scene. Talk the neighbor?” Beau asked.
“Briefly, but I wanted her to tell her story to you. That's her on the porch over there,” Kelly gestured with his head. “Her name is Mae Hatmaker,” he said.
“Looks like you could use a smoke break Kel. Walk over to your cruiser and burn a few to the filters. You've earned it,” Chet said.
Kelly nodded and walked away.
“I want to go in and take a look at everything and then I want to talk to the neighbor,” Beau said as he headed for the door.
“I'll be in shortly. I want to talk to Brandie and give her a break. She looks like she could use it,” Chet said.
Beau walked by Brandie who was usually bubbly and quick with a joke. Her eyes were puffy and red but she was holding strong.
“I told Kel and I'll tell you. You two did a great job of sealing everything off. In this situation, that's the best anybody can do,” Beau said before he stepped inside.
The first thing he noticed when he got inside was not the body on the floor but the spattered blood and tissue on the wall and closet door. He kneeled next to the body.
“Execution style,” Beau said looking at the wounds.
Marcus was snapping pictures of the crime scene.
“Besides that empty safe we found in the den, this looks like the only room disturbed. There's a partial footprint consistent with this one near the door leading out to the garage,” Haley said.
“And outside of the dead body of a former deputy and his blood and brains splattered everywhere, this room looks largely untouched. The safe being left reinforces the idea that Tackett - or someone - left in a hurry,” Beau said as he looked to Marcus.
“Can you dust for prints? I want to talk to the woman across the street. Haley can you come with me? It might help having a woman there. She might open up to you before she'll tell me anything,” he said.
“Yeah man, I got this,” Marcus said.
Haley followed Beau outside.
“Ever see anything like this before?” He asked as they walked across the yard.
“Oh yeah. I've seen much worse than this. I remember one case in Atlanta where a man killed his girlfriend with a baseball bat. That was gruesome,” Haley said.
“I just wanted to make sure...well,” Beau hesitated.
“I'm fine. But thank you for asking,” She added, “And Brandie will be okay too. She just needs time to process everything.”
Beau looked up the street to see Kelly already working on his fourth cigarette.
When they arrived at the house across the street, both Beau and Haley flashed their badges and identified themselves.
“Ms. Hatmaker,” Beau began.
“It's missus. I'm a widow,” she corrected.
“I'm sorry Mrs. Hatmaker. Can you tell us what you saw this morning?” He asked.
Mae then told them in detail of the SUV, the pick-up truck arriving and leaving, and of course the appearance and departure of Bob Tackett.
Haley left Mae a card with several numbers including her own personal number.
Before they left, Mae pulled Haley aside.
“Are you married?” She asked.
“No ma’am,” Haley said somewhat puzzled.
“Is he?” Mae asked.
“No, he isn't. Why do you ask?” Haley asked.
“It's just that you two look so good together and I can tell by the way he looks at you, he's interested,” Mae said.
“Excuse me?” Haley asked.
“You can't let a man like that get away. I can tell. I've been married four times. I know a good man when I see one,” Mae said.
Haley forced a big smile.
“I'll keep that in mind,” she said as retreated toward Beau.
“What was all that about?” He asked.
“Uh, nothing really. She was just asking about my hair. Does it look okay?” Haley asked.
“It, uh, looks great,” Beau said with a puzzled expression.
When they got across the street, Chet was waiting at the front door.
“The medical examiner is here. They're bagging the body for transport now. I contacted his mother to meet us at Goode's. The funeral home will keep him long enough for an ID to be made. There'll be an autopsy but I don't how much good it will do. I think we already know the cause of death,” Chet said.
“I'm going inside to help Marcus,” Haley said.
“I've updated the APB on Tackett. He's to be considered armed and dangerous. We've listed him as a person of interest,” Chet said.
“Based on the account of our only witness, I'm inclined
to think Tackett wasn't the shooter — he might have been the target,” Beau said.
Chet raised his eyebrows.
“Look, I'll fill you in later. I want to go inside and see if I can help,” Beau said.
“Sure, go ahead. I'll follow the M.E. over to Goode's and wait for Smitty's mother,” Chet said.
Two hours later, the three emerged with their gear and a couple of bags of evidence they had collected.
They were loading the Bronco when the call came over the radio.
“C.I. One, C.I. One, do you copy.”
“C.I. One, go ahead,” Beau said.
“We have a report of a 10-72 at 2537 Hurst Street. The sheriff asked that you get there ASAP,” said Gary, the dispatcher on duty.
“Another dead body?” Marcus asked in surprise.
“10-4 Dispatch. On our way,” Beau said.
Seven minutes later, the Bronco stopped at the little white rancher on Hurst Street. Bright yellow tape already was already stretched across the yard and the front door, which was open. Chet stood by the door while Deputy Kyle Whayne stood beside him. Other deputies and a couple of officers from the Stone City Police Department milled about the yard and in the street waving onlookers away.
Chet met the trio on the sidewalk.
“Kyle got a call from the victim's sister for a welfare check. She didn't show up for work this morning and didn't answer her phone,” Chet explained.
“Where did she work?” Beau asked.
“Secretary at Raven Manufacturing. Worked for Bob Tackett,” Chet said looking at Beau.
“Shit,” Marcus said slowly.
“Anyone canvas the neighbors to see if they heard or saw anything?” Beau asked Kyle.
“Most aren't home but we've talked to a few. Nothing yet,” Kyle said.
“Can you take the evidence we gathered at Tackett's house and log it in? I don't want any implication of contaminated evidence,” Beau asked Chet.
“Yes, no problem,” the sheriff said.
“Haley sweep the yard and the exterior of the house. Marcus, recanvas the neighbors who were home last night and this morning. I'll start processing the scene,” Beau said.
“As soon as I finish up out here I'll come help,” Haley said.
“Same here,” Marcus said as he took his gear bag off of his shoulder and handed it to Beau, took it and walked inside.
There on the floor amid the overturned furniture and broken lamp was the pale, lifeless body of Savanna Brooke.
He exhaled and shook his head and slipped on a pair of nitrile gloves. Beau kneeled next to her and examined the deep gash on the left side of her face. He wasn't an M.E. but he was pretty certain the cause of death would be due to the massive blood loss.
He looked at the bruises and cuts on her face.
“Somebody worked her over pretty good and from the looks of things, he raped her too,” Chet said.
“After looking at the pictures from Sara Devlin's place and knowing who she worked for...I don't think we have a great mystery in figuring out who the killer is,” Beau said.
“You might be right. We just need a manhunt to find the suspect,” Chet said.
“Well, we'll process the scene and see what turns up,” Beau said as he opened the crime kit bag.
“I need to log the evidence from Smitty's murder and join everybody else in beating the bushes for Tackett,” Chet said as Beau nodded.
A half-hour later, Haley and Marcus returned.
“Do any good?” Beau asked.
“Nobody saw anything or if they did, they're not talking,” Marcus said.
“You process any other room?” Haley asked.
“Not yet. I'm just wrapping up in here,” Beau said.
“I'm going to take a look around at the rest of the house,” she said.
“Is that what I think it is on that cushion?” Marcus asked.
“I believe so, yes,” Beau said.
“Ewww. I hate bodily fluids,” Marcus said.
“I understand but DNA evidence is the best, so, if you don't mind, bag the cushion please,” Beau said.
“Guys! Check this out!” Haley called from the back of the house.
Beau and Marcus walked the hallway to the second room on the right.
“In here,” she said.
They walked on and Haley stood with a dresser drawer open.
“Look at this,” Haley said pointing to a pile of underwear.
“I hope that's female underwear,” Beau said.
“Yes they are,” she said. “These are custom-made silk; very expensive. They are also monogrammed,” Haley pointed at the tiny lettering on the waist band.
“M”?” Beau asked.
“And that's not all. What do each of these have in common?” She asked.
“Are...Are those stains?” Marcus asked.
“I would have said 'soiled,' but yes, that's what that is,” Haley said.
“Anyway you look at it, this woman was saving dirty underwear. There's something wrong with that,” Marcus said.
“You know what's really weird?” Haley asked.
“It gets worse?” Marcus asked.
“Maybe, maybe not. This might turn out to be a major clue. None of this underwear would fit the deceased. It's all much too large for her,” Haley said.
“Let's dust everything in here for prints. We get prints to match the...DNA on that underwear, maybe we’ll get some answers,” Beau said.
Chapter Five
As Gene watched the morning television interview from behind the camera, he fumed. How could Cyprus so badly botch such a simple assignment? It was Bob Tackett, an old drunk, not a former KGB agent or CIA operative.
Gene knew most of Tackett's haunts, but so far none had checked out. The longer Tackett was missing the worse the situation would get. The Raven family had been good to Tackett and he had always been loyal, but now it was different. Tackett would surely be facing a murder charge. On top of that, his dead nephew would let Tackett know that the Ravens were looking for him.
They had to find him soon. The last thing Gene, Dal, or even Jack needed was a frightened Tackett looking to cut a deal. Gene thought it over. He hated to personally intervene but also didn't want lose everything while he was on the verge of making a dream come true.
He walked to the phone and called Susan O'Dell, the county mayor.
“Susan? Gene Raven, how are you?”
“I'm fine Gene, how are you?” She asked cheerfully.
She knows where her bread is buttered, he thought.
“Listen, I'm trying to run down that no account brother of yours. I've called every number I know and I can't get him. It's urgent that I talk to him,” Gene said.
“Have you tried both of his houses?” Susan asked.
“I have and quite frankly Susan, I'm a little worried. This isn't like Bob to be so out of pocket,” he said.
“The only other place I would know is his hunting cabin - but there's no phone there,” Susan said.
“You mean his place on the river at Shiloh Mountain?” Gene asked.
“That's the place,” she said.
“Okay, well if you should talk to him, would you please ask him to call me on my cellular phone. He and I need to talk about a deal that could give him more money than he's ever imagined,” Gene said.
“I will gladly. By the way, since I have you on the phone I have a favor to ask,” she said.
“Susan, what can I do?” He asked warmly.
“My nephew - and Bob's - was a deputy with the sheriff's department until yesterday. That asshole Chet Thurman fired him for no good reason,” she said.
Gene let out a sigh of relief. She doesn't know yet.
“What's his name?” He asked.
“Raven Tackett Smith but most people know him as Smitty,” she said.
“As you know, I have very little influence with the sheriff but I'm always needing a good man on my security team. And who knows? Maybe he would make a wonderful ca
ndidate for sheriff in a couple of years,” Gene said.
“I knew I could count on you,” she said.
“Have him call me and I'll get started. And again, if you hear from Bob, please let him know that millions of dollars are on the line. He could be set for life,” Gene said.
“I'll gladly do that,” she said.
“Thank you Susan. Goodbye,” he hung up without waiting for her reply.
He had no intention of paying Tackett off to keep silent when he could just silence him. Gene walked down the hall to a room where Cyprus was sleeping.
He woke up when Gene closed the door.
“What's up?” Cyprus asked sleepily.
“A chance for redemption. I need a team assembled. I have a line on where Tackett might be,” Gene said.
“I'll assemble five of the best we have and lead them myself,” Cyprus said.
“No, I need you with me. I'm meeting with several major state Republican leaders here today. I want you to be seen with me in case anyone managed to get a look at you last night,” Gene said.
“I'll get a team together within the hour,” Cyprus said.
“And I'll have you a map of the location,” Gene said.
***
It was nearly 2:30 p.m. before the evidence had been gathered and the crime scene processed. Beau, Marcus, and Haley got back to the CID Office and logged in the evidence.
“I don't know about you two, but I'm starving. I feel like my belt buckle and my backbone are about to meet,” Marcus said.
“Why don't you two run grab a bite and I'll contact the TBI lab in Knoxville and let them know I'm on my way with some DNA samples and other evidence,” Beau said.
“You need to eat too,” Haley said.
“I'll grab some drive-thru on the way,” he said.
“Why don't I help? It'll go quicker and I can talk to a few friends and see if I can get them to put this at the top of the list since we're dealing with two murders,” Haley said.
“I appreciate it but there's no need in all of us going to Knoxville - somebody needs to hang back just in case we locate Tackett. And I know you haven't had anything to eat since before seven this morning. I can't have investigators dropping like flies from starvation,” Beau said.
“She's got a point Beau. We need those results ASAP and her presence couldn't hurt. Why don't I go over to the End Zone and grab some sandwiches? That way we can all get some work done before the evidence is transported. If we get word on Tackett, we're all here,” Marcus said.
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