Smiling Sam's Family
When Stacy saw Sam sitting on his porch dressed for a trip to town, she wondered why he wasn't fishing on a lovely day such as this one. It became very clear very soon as he said, "Nice to see you both. Let's go inside where we can all sit down. Okay, hang on for breaking news," he laughed. Stacy and Rory both let a round of laughter escape an otherwise serious case they were working on. "My daughter is the secretary to Beth Rider the principal of Kalmiopsis School. Because of the startling news she has, she couldn't contact you direct, but knowing I worked with you guys in various ways.
Anyway, she said one day, not so long ago, about closing time, she told her that Steve Fisher was coming to be called on the carpet for his drinking problem in public and extra circular relationships with other teachers and ordinary citizens. She told her to make sure all the doors were locked because she didn't want her hearing her yell at him. She came back twenty minutes later seeing Steve Fisher come out of the principals' office with a grin on his face. The he grabbed his backside to indicate she'd taken a hunk out of his back side with a good a dressing down.
Then she saw Beth Rider leave the office and go out the front door on her way home. My daughter noticed she forgot to lock her door and went in her office to check to make sure the windows were closed. She told me the unmistakable smell --odor of recent sex pervaded the office. That's it kids.
"What's your daughter's name Sam," asked Rory.
"Here name is Sara Wright. Her husband is a teacher at the local private Christian school. He's the one that told her to contact me.
"I'll call Ben and have him meet us at the station. It appears it will be a long day so we'd best fuel up while waiting for Ben," said Rory with a straight face. Stacy rolled her eyes and Sam just smiled.
They found Chief Ray in his wood shop working on a myrtle wood coffee table. He and Sam warmly shook hands. Sam was impressed by how nice the shop turned out. "You know Ray, I was interim wood shop teacher at Bandon High School for two years until they could find an Industrial Arts teacher. I'm amazed how nice the equipment is, but in reality the same principal applies. Well, I've my fishing and you've your wood shop."
"Come by anytime Sam. I can wood work in the rain, but you can't fish. Coffee pot is always on and the door is always open," said Ray.
Stacy updated her father who listened with complete attention. When she'd finished, he said, "I'd say you can wrap this case up today. It's sad that people can't just find a mate and be satisfied."
At the restaurant, Ben caught up with the two detectives and one assistant detective. Rory filled him while they had lunch. Sam's eyes were popping out of his head seeing how much Rory consumed.
After lunch, Rory behind the wheel, Stacy and Sam in the back, each took a nap sitting in the warm SUV on a sunny day.
After a quick stop at the court house in Gold Beach to pick up an arrest warrant, they arrived in Brookings just after two thirty. First they wanted to interview Gail Rimley and afterwards Principal Beth Rider.
Standing in front of the long counter, Sara Wright greeted her father and the three detectives. She said, "I'm so happy you're here as the stress is killing me. Principal Rider is in her office and so is Gail Rimley. Shall I inform Beth that you want to interview Gail?"
"Yes, please do. Let's keep it formal and within proper protocol," said Stacy.
Sara dashed off and quietly knocked on the principal's door. She stuck her head in and was right back with a nod to see Gail. Sam stayed with Sara, while the three detectives went to Gail's classroom. It was the pale white hand to the throat, when she saw the detectives entering her door less class room.
Ben said later he felt sorry for the lonely woman who'd been sorely mistreated by an egotistical male that prayed on the weakness of some females.
"I've some metal chairs for guests who like to visit my classes. I'd welcome the help setting the chairs out please."
After sitting down, Gail went from one face to the other seeing grim looks on all three detectives. Stacy broke the ice and said, "Ms. Rimley, we verified your stay in Bandon on Saturday night and Sunday. You checked out around ten pm Saturday night. Your disheveled appearance left us wondering how you obtained that particular look.
This is what we think probably happened. You followed the five teachers down to the lighthouse possibly waiting for an opportunity to speak to Steve Fisher. They'd a big beach fire going all the while watching them having fun drinking. From your hiding place, you saw the teachers disagreeing on something. Then low and behold four of the teachers left leaving Steve all alone by the fire. Here was your opportunity. You boldly walked over so he could see you by the fire light. I think he embraced you and you responded in kind. Here it was that only a short time ago he'd thrown you over for Beth Rider.
You see we think you and Beth were friends of sorts. You told her in confidence how well endowed Steve Fisher was and possibly how good he was in bed. Be that as it may, he cast you aside. Now back at the beach, he plays rough and he laughs at you when he's finished raping you. You drive back to the Dune Resort, check out and leave town. The caretaker can verify the time you left the park. Steve Fisher, when you left him at the beach, was still very much alive.
In order for us to arrest the murderer, we'd like you to confirm out thinking about what transpired Ms. Rimley.
Stacy saw a beaten up woman that made some recent bad decisions. She saw her nod her head and then she sat up trying to compose herself. She said, "You've an amazing sense of sight into people, places and so on. It all happened pretty much as you related. I'm not sorry he's gone as that member of his is a weapon more that a tool of love. I confided in a friend and she enticed him away from me."
"One more question Gail. Did Steve ever play the potato game with you," asked Rory.
"No, but he talked about it a lot. I told him no way would I be a party to such deviant sexual behavior?
Stacy led the way standing up. Stacy shook her hand and wished her well. They retraced their steps to the office. Stacy nodded to Sara who knocked on Principal Beth Rider's door.
Sara ushered the three detectives in. Gail had a puzzled look, but tried to remain stoic.
"I'll come right to the point Ms Beth Rider. You're under arrest for the murder of Steve Fisher. You've the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be and will used against you in a court of law. Do you understand what you've been told?"
"Yes, I understand, but regardless of what I say or don't say, I presume you've evidence to support your claim."
"Would you like to hear my theory Ms. Rider?
"I sure would. When you're finished I'll fill in any gaps," said Beth.
"You were aware the five teachers were going camping up in Bullards Park near the Bandon Lighthouse. However before that eventful day, let's point out your first mistake. Your friend Gail Rimley told you in confidence about her relationship with Steve Fisher. Her description of his unit and so on piqued your interest. You not long before that warned him about being a womanizer around a small town. The altercation at a tavern was reported to the Brookings police.
You decided to once again call him on the carpet. It was at that time of day when school was shutting down for the day. You sent your secretary Sara on some fool errand while you entertained Steve Fisher in your office.
About twenty minutes later, Steve leaves the building and you're not far behind. You secretary notices the door is not locked to your office. She goes in to check the windows and detects the obvious odor of recent sex.
Mistake number two was parking your car next to Steve's sports car at the Driftwood Cabins. Police Chief, Joe Zorn had a watch on Steve's car. A police officer called in your license plate number and the rest is history.
Next we place you in the parking lot of the lighthouse at Bandon. You were spying on the teachers. Your car and self were hidden well. You saw the five teachers come and build a big fire on the beach. Additionally you observe Gail's car enter with its lights out. To make
a long story short, you see four teachers leave the area and Steve is the only one remaining. Next you witness Gail and Steve from the light of the fire. You become angry when you watch them fornicating. You hear Steve laughing and Gail running back to her car.
Now it's your turn to confront him. You see him playing with a potato with a cord strung through one end. He explains it to you and you see an opportunity to pay him back. You readily agree to assist him. He has a key to the lighthouse. He stole it from the key board at the caretaker's office. Anyway, up on top he hands you the potato. The only light is from a small moon. You take the opportunity to enlarge the hole in the potato so you can insert your finger. You slightly break the potato.
He instructs you how to attach the plastic ties to his wrists and ankles. After he's secured hands and feet, you began the masturbation to bring him to his magical orgasm. When he groans, it's time to insert the potato and to fasten the wire clip to the nose. As Steve Fisher is about to climax, he groans to have the potato pulled out. You jerk the cord, he ejaculates, the potato breaks off, and he suffocates.
You cut the ties, drape him over the railing. You lock the door and drive out of the area at around midnight. Your car is seen and license recorded by the caretaker. How did I do Beth?"
"Not bad detective. You three live up to your reputations."
It's a Wrap
A sheriff's car with two deputies awaited Beth Rider for transportation to Gold Beach County Jail. Sam had his arm around his daughter while just inside the glass doors, Gail Rimley stared at the end of Principal Beth Rider career leaving the school for the last time.
It was a quiet ride back to Bandon, but when they entered town, Rory broke the ice mentioning how famished he was. For Stacy and Ben, that was the go signal to put the Murder at the Lighthouse case to bed.
Land of the Piñata
A week later, on a gorgeous Saturday for the Oregon coast, Rory drove up to the open doors of the wood shop. Stacy was helping her father load the coffee table he'd just finished. Stacy noticed Rory had a perpetual smile on his face. Now what, she wondered.
Ray said he'd be back shortly that the customer would help him unload the table. Stacy went and sat at the worktable. Rory followed and she saw him dig out an envelope and hand it to her. He saw a puzzled look cross her lovely face. When she digested what she held in her hands, she sucked her breath in. He said, "My captain said we both need to practice our Spanish. I hope you will bring a Spanish/English dictionary."
Stacy gave him a hug agreeing on all things south of the boarder.
"Murder in the Pasture"
Foul Spring Clover
Any, and I say any, dairy farmer will tell you that the manure from his farm smells like money to him. The aroma that makes city folks turn their noses, are pure hypocrites, as they pour milk over their kids cereal, drink it with cookies or cake, put a few drops into coffee to take away the bitterness and no doctor worth his salt, would disagree that the calcium in milk is a major building block of life for humans.
Dairy farmer Lance Woodrow, in his early fifties, had lived everyday of his life afraid that one of his prime Holsteins would die on him. Not only would he lose the milk production, but the original investment was in the thousands of dollars; if purchased on the outside. Hence, at the early morning hours of a day, when the stock would come to the milking barn to relieve the full tanks of their bags, he counted each head. If he was short, he'd jump on his tractor and go looking with a big hand held spot light. Sometimes one head might surprise the farmer with the birth of a new calf. Other times, a head would suddenly expire and with a sensitive nose, a farmer could find that dead animal with his nose.
On a late spring morning, two hours before daylight, Lance Woodrow was missing a milk cow. He left the milking to his hired hand and his son, Darin. Darin had purchased an ATV to roar around the pastures in. Tractors were just too slow and they were mostly used to scoop the 'golden' green manure that accumulated daily.
Occasionally a Holstein would wander into a drainage ditch and have a hard time getting out. At that time a tractor was needed to pull the stranded bawling girl out. However none of the examples aforementioned happened to Lance that early morning, but what he did find, with his nose was a dead body, but not a cow, but a human.
Lance saw the body face down in a foot or so of water with grass growing from the bottom to the top of the drainage ditch; or irrigation ditch. With his powerful spot light, he could tell the person was dead. He high tailed it back to the milk barn.
A call was made to 911 that was answered in Coos Bay. Lance Woodrow's dairy farm was only a few miles outside of Bandon, Oregon on the way to Coquille, Oregon. Coos Bay took the information and said someone would be on their way very soon.
The Oregon State Police are responsible for a homicide in Coos and Curry counties of Oregon. North Bend is the main office of the state police. Lead detective, Rory Caltex and his partner, who declined the responsibility, Ben Razor.
Detective Caltex received the call at five am. Groggily he answered and then, as it was his job, woke up with a jolt. He told the dispatcher to text the address and directions to his cell. Next he called Ben who answered like he'd been awake for hours. Rory would pick him up on the way south on Hwy 101. The last call he made was to Detective Stacy Foreham in Bandon.
He said to Stacy, "We got a body in an irrigation ditch on a dairy farm. The farmer's name is Lance Woodrow. Does that ring a bell so early in the morning?"
"I know the name, but don't really know much about the family. He's got a wild son I heard a few stories about, but nothing really out of line. Come to Bandon, pick me up and I'll lead you to his dairy," Stacy said.
She took a wake-up shower and dressed for the day. Lately it had been nice spring weather on the southern coast of Oregon. Regardless of a nice spring, the onshore flow of air off the Pacific Ocean kept the temperature under seventy most of the time. Stacy, before she went out the door, after telling her father, Police Chief, Ray Foreham, of a possible homicide at Lance Woodrow's dairy farm, put on a wind breaker that her admirer Rory Caltex bought her for Christmas.
This would be, if in fact it was a homicide, their fifth murder case working together. Their reputation had reached the upper levels of law enforcement, including the FBI. It was also known that the recent addition to the Bandon Police, Stacy Foreham, a recent graduate of the University of Chicago with a degree in criminology, seemed to possess what was needed to become, what Rory said, 'A super sleuth.'
Stacy had had time for a quick breakfast before Rory and Ben arrived. Her father, in his Batman bathrobe, made her some raisin oatmeal and toast. "What do you know about Lance Woodrow father," asked Stacy.
"Not a lot. He's a successful dairy farmer with his son following in his footsteps. I've heard the son, Darin, is a little on the wild side, but so far he's not broken any laws. He's a university graduate so he's had a taste of the big city and now he's stuck in a small town or rural atmosphere. Other than that, I know very little else. His wife, Laurie is popular with their church and some charities."
"Isn't there a daughter too," she asked.
"I think so, but that's for you to find out I guess."
A knock at the door brought forth a smiling man that a short Stacy had to look up to nearly straining her neck. Rory Caltex stood a few inches over six foot and just shy of two hundred pounds. His startling deep blue eyes and gleaming white teeth, would melt most women. He dressed nicely and he'd fit in anywhere in a big city professional environment.
"I'm ready Tall Man. Let's hit the road. By the time we get there it'll be daylight. Did you call Dr. Stone?"
"Yup, sure did detective. She's on her way."
"Hey Rory," said Chief Ray, "here's some toast for the road.
A Cranberry Feast
If one was driving east towards Coquille, after traveling along a plateau, the highway drops sharply downhill to the valley that follows the meandering Coquille River to the county seat of Coos County,
Coquille. Just at the bottom of the hill where the flood plain begins, is part of Lance Woodrow's dairy farm. All in all, the farm comprised over two hundred acres of prime bottom land. Residing just east of the hill, as it were, a rain shadow of sorts provided a little more sunshine than other areas. Consequently green grass made for happy milk cows and great tasting milk. For the Woodrow Dairy, Lance smiled all the way to the bank most of the time.
Driving up to the raised house when it used to flood every year, but now, no problem as the Army Corp of Engineers had built a flood control dam up river. Families along the river were used to climbing steps to their houses.
On this particular morning Lance Woodrow was standing by his ATV waiting for the police to arrive. The son was nowhere around. Rory held out his hand for an introduction. Stacy waited while Rory and Ben were introduced and then with formality she heard Rory introduce her to Lance. She saw Lance raise an eyebrow at mention of her name. Then a smile when he recognized the connection to the Chief of Bandon Police.
"You've four wheel drive so no problem driving over to the place where the body resides. We cross one irrigation ditch then across a field to the other one. Follow me please."
"Mr. Woodrow, let's wait until the coroner arrives with the CSI team. We don't want to disturb any evidence that might be germane to the case," said Stacy.
"Of course, you're right," said Lance.
"Tell us what you saw while we wait Mr. Woodrow," said Rory.
"I didn't see a lot because it was still dark out. I was looking for a missing cow. But instead I spotted with my spot light a body lying face down in the ditch. I'm fairly sure it was a male. I saw brown pants and a checkered long sleeve shirt. The hair was not long and I think brown in color. That's about it detectives."
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