Stacy thought he looked like a little kid in a candy store. They ate in mostly silence as Rory was thinking of events to happen after dinner and she was thinking how to proceed with the prime perp tomorrow.
The rain had stopped, but the air was full of moisture. Stacy looked up seeing some stars through the broken clouds. It looked and felt good to her. Rory was standing alongside like a faithful companion shuffling from foot to foot wondering when his lips would taste the sweetness of his crush.
"Let's drive down to the South Jetty," said Stacy. "A nice walk on the jetty will relieve the fullness of our dinner. Rory did her bidding. On the ride down to the jetty, Stacy left the case and went to her and Rory. She ran through from their initial meeting at the golf course where he showed his macho sexist attitude against women; to the present time where he'd been working hard to learn his lesson he made with her.
She realized that deep down he was a good man who really cared for others. She'd met his parents and his demeanor around them showed he was raised well. However, the however always popped up in any relationship. In this 'however' she at age twenty four was too young to settle down with the role of wife no matter if she continued her career in law enforcement. She decided it wasn't fair to him stringing the poor guy along any longer.
She felt the car stop and he said, "We're here. Let's stretch our legs."
They walked along the jetty seeing countless stars and hearing the roar of the ocean with waves crashing onto the jetty rocks. Some of those rocks were almost the size of a small car. Stacy was looking for a rock to stand on that would make her level with the over six foot Rory. That way she could taste his maleness and smell his Old Spice aftershave. She found her rock as a cloud passed by half moon lighting up the dark jetty. After stepping onto the rock, she said, "My grandfather said an upside down half moon meant it was going to rain soon."
He laughed, showing his perfect white teeth. "If he lived here on the coast he would be right most of the time." She pulled him close with a hand to his shirt. His arms immediately encircled her small body. She reached up and around his neck pressing her chest against his chest. He felt her small hard breasts against his chest and when he turned his face slightly, their cold lips met.
Their lips parted slight as tongue met tongue toying with just the tips in a playful erotic way. He couldn't wait for long as he chased her retreating tongue into her warm mouth. He heard her softly moan and he too let out a sound akin to a male in the throes of passion. Her hips ground into his crotch feeling his hard member straining for release.
She kept her pressure on his hips as she parted, leaning back, his mouth found a soft neck for his pleasure. He took advantage and enjoyed the luxury she offered. While he was savoring her neck she took one of his hands and placed it on her breast. He gently squeezed a hard nipple. She moaned in pleasure.
For Stacy it felt wonderful and it also had been a long time since she had felt the stirring of passion in her young body. But, here came that 'however' again lurking and ready to strike to end the pleasure she felt. She said, while grinding her hips into his hardness, "We need to stop before it's too late Tall Man. As much as I want to spend the night with you, I just can't at this time. I want us to continue, but," as she wrapped her arms around his neck looking him in the eyes, still feeling his big hand on her small breast, I can't commit right now. I can't explain it to satisfy your thinking Rory, but I do have strong feelings for you. I'm not teasing you either. I want you, but I can't go all the way at this time. You're extremely attractive and I've seen the look in other girl's eyes when they look at you. You could pick and choose at will.
He drew back his head, while releasing his hand on her breast, "I've been there and done that. I can wait a while longer. It's time like this that keeps me going until the next time. If there's no next time, then I'll move on, but until then I shall have my dreams to tide me over. I treasure the moments when you 'bruise' my lips. I'm very happy now. Let's seal the deal one more time as my lips still need bruising"
Grabbing a fist full of his hair with one hand, she hungrily devoured his tongue feeling his hardness once again. Pulling back she said "Day by day, step by step to reach our goals. Let's go home now as we've a big day tomorrow. Bring Ben and be at the station at 9 am. We've a killer to visit with."
Spilled Milk
The next morning Stacy found Vicki and her father in the kitchen chatting back and forth. Stacy was fresh from the shower and feeling good. The sun was shining brightly through the windows. "Morning all," said Stacy as she sat down to discover a mug of hot water and an assortment of tea bags just waiting for her choice. "I'm starving this morning dad. What's for breakfast and before I forget it, thank you for cooking. Your worthless daughter is beholden to you."
"I thought cheese omelets would work this am," he said. You guys make the toast. Also take out the cranberry juice. I'm fighting the potential dreaded cancer with nature's natural soldier."
At the station, Stacy looked over all the case files. She wanted to make sure that she'd not overlooked something before interviewing the prime suspect. She saw nothing out of the ordinary and sat back thinking about the long lasting consequences of a prison term on the person who killed Mario.
Rory and Ben came in after dropping off a bag full of various kinds of muffins to Flo. Rory had his bag and to his surprise, Stacy gobbled down a blue berry muffin. Also to his surprise, she flashed him a warm smile sending a sharp pain to his groin area. To him she looked lovely in denim pants, a pale yellow button up shirt and a waist length corduroy tan coat. She might not have graced Vogue, but to Rory she was a small package of pure dynamite.
"Where are we going, if I might ask? I think we're going to someplace where the aroma smells like money," said Rory.
"You got it right, Tall Man. We need to see Bossy and see how much she's giving these days. I always wondered how much one milk cow produced in a given day."
"A Holstein will produce about 8 gallons a day," said Ben.
"Now I know," said Stacy. Let's go catch a killer boys," said Stacy rising up and walking out of her office. Rory stood watching her leave with his throat going dry.
The Woodrow Dairy looked the same back when they first drove in the gravel driveway. It was half pass nine and all should have finished their breakfast by now. Dogs were barking and soon Lance Woodrow appeared on the front porch. He looked ten years older.
Stacy, Rory and Ben waited for him to come down the steps to greet them. They said good morning and he nodded. Stacy said, "Mr. Woodrow we would like to talk to Eddie please. We've a few questions about the case we'd like to clarify."
Lance had a frown on his face hearing something he never expected. He said, "Eddie's cleaning the barn. Let's go down and you can ask him what you want to."
They found Eddie doing his job. Lance motioned him over and Eddie trotted over removing his hat in front of a lady. "Eddie these officers would like a few words with you. Let's go to the office.
Inside the office was very cramped with five people in a three person office. However, Ben found a corner, Rory next to him with Lance against the door. Stacy sat behind the desk with Eddie in front of her. Rory smiled thinking how his partner Stacy took command of an interview.
"Eddie we'd like some information we're lacking involving the death of the man in the irrigation ditch. I'm going to tell a story about what I think happened and I'd like for you to stop me when I make a mistake. Okay Eddie?"
Stacy saw in Eddie's eyes that he knew she knew. He said, "Yes, Miss Stacy."
"Sometime past midnight and before time to milk the cows Eddie, you discovered Debbie, who you deeply love and have loved for years, making love to a man in the barn. Your blood boiled over and you grabbed a shovel knocking the man unconscious. Debbie, of course was shocked. She ran to the house while you tied the man's hands behind his back. I think you had a handgun in your house. You were set on killing this man who had violated your love of your life.
You took you
r handgun and carried the unconscious man to the river. At first I think you were going to toss him into the river, but then you decided that this mobster from Chicago needed to die like the mafia killed their victims: a shot to the back of the head. You saw the boat he'd came up river in. Obviously he couldn't pass by the dogs. You then took his shoes off and tossed them into the river. Some say you're a little slow, but I see a smart man in front of me." Eddie smiled and lowered his eyes. "After that you shot him in the head. You took his ring off and placed it on the bank to confuse the issue. Then you pushed the boat out with your in it to the middle of the river. You dumped the motor into the river and tossed the gun in with it. After that you swam back to the bank and went home. You probably showered and dressed for work. Have I missed anything Eddie?"
"No Miss Stacy. All of what you said is about how it happened. I'm not a heavy sleeper and I heard some noise like a door closing. I got up seeing a light on in the barn. I was curious. I thought maybe Mr. Woodrow was in the office doing something. I went over and found Debbie and this guy rutting like animals do. A shovel was handy. Well, the rest you know. Even since I came here to work, I live day by day just to glimpse Debbie in real life. I'm ready to pay my dues."
Aftermath
Eddie Lasater pleads guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to ten years in the state prison in Salem. With good behavior, and all knew that would be the case, he'd be out in four or five years. Lance Woodrow said his job would be waiting for him when he returned.
To Rory's great surprise and delight, Stacy asked him if he had some time off coming. They went to Bend, Oregon for a long weekend. Ben said later that Rory was hard to live with after he returned.
Rory had learned his lesson and accepted the fact that he would have to take what was offered and no more. However, as he told Ben, a man can wish can't he?
Murder in the Cranberry Bogs
Charles Kincaid, on a dreary fall morning, was harvesting his cranberries as he'd done for many years. He was walking behind his harvester in the flooded bogs when he saw something yellow against the far side of his bog. He ignored it while he finished what he was doing. Curiosity aroused, he walked across the bog in his bib waders. The water was only up to his shins, but it made sense to wear waterproof rubber wear for a day's work in water.
As he approached the object he could see that with the yellow color of fabric, white arms on both sides of a yellow shirt. Long red hair floated freely because his walking had created small waves. The body was face down. Charles realized he had a dead body in his cranberry bog.
He stood there more puzzled than scared. Then he remembered he was friends with Bandon Police Chief Ray Foreham. He called the police station direct. Florence Medders, dispatcher/secretary took the call. She told Charles to not touch anything and that a police officer would be there directly. First she called Dan Swollow, a police officer, to proceed to Johnson Road for a possible 187 at Charles Kincaid's bog. Next she ran to Stacy Foreham's office to tell the resident homicide detective that a possible homicide was called in. Stacy wrote down the information and went to see her father Ray Foreham, the Chief of Police. She informed him and he said, "I'll go with you as Charles and I go back a long ways."
When they arrived at the bog, Dan Swollow said, "It's a young female with a red hole in her back. She's been shot."
"Do the usual Dan and let nobody anywhere near the body. Let's make sure we block the road so nobody can drive in here. About how far is it to the bog," asked Stacy.
"Not far. About two hundred yards. Charles told me he has 50 acres here planted in cranberries. The killer must have driven in this road, carried the body across the bog, then dumped her into the water on the far side. Unless he/she made her walk across the bog and then killed her. Either way, she's dead," said Dan.
"There's no mistaken her being dead Dan," asked Stacy.
"I keep a knee high pair of boots in my trunk Stacy. I walked across, but kept south of the body and saw a large exit wound coming out of her back. No doubt she's dead."
"Stacy nodded and speed dialed Rory Caltex the head of Oregon State Police detectives stationed in North Bend. He and Ben Razor were responsible for all homicides in two counties. Stacy Foreham had been promoted to Detective in Bandon after showing her success solving four homicides. Prior, she was a police officer on staff at Bandon, Oregon. She'd recently finished her criminology degree at the University of Chicago.
Her father, Ray Foreham, was Bandon's Chief of Police. Stacy and her father both lost mother and wife to the dreaded "C" word. Stacy, after college, by her own choice, decided to come home and live with her father who was rather lonely living by himself. As it turned out, so far it was very good for the both of them. Some thought she'd missed a big chance as she was strongly recruited by the major law enforcement agencies of the government.
One man, who was totally enamored with Stacy and happy she hadn't signed with another agency, was Detective Rory Caltex. He answered on the third ring, "What's up Top Dawg of detectives,"
"Very funny Tall Man. Wipe the dust off your murder bag and hot foot it down to Bandon. Go south past the airport about half mile. You'll see Dan and his flashing lights on the left side. Is Ben back from vacation yet?"
"Yes, but he rolled in late last night. I'll call him as he never likes to be out of the loop. I'll call Dr. Stone and have her and the CSI team rolling south." He hung up.
Stacy inwardly smiled. It appeared that Rory had reached a level that defined a relationship that could be delineated between work and pleasure. She flashed back to the beginning when she was a police officer who was the first on the scene of a murder at the local golf course. She'd never met Rory Caltex and after the first ten minutes, wished she'd never had.
Stacy was petite; Rory tall and well built. She was young; he was over thirty. He thought women had no place in a homicide and would be more suited to changing diapers. He made a big mistake showing his macho redneck to someone who was a cut above the average detective.
Stacy cut him no slack. She solved the case throwing it back into his face. Rory took the slap and fell in love. She knew it and felt it, but he'd have to play work up and prove to her he'd learned his lesson. A year later and five homicides under the bridge, they were beginning to come together.
After the last case, Stacy decided to give the guy a chance. They took a long weekend to Bend, Oregon to explore the relationship geographically and mentally.
The Woman in Yellow
Rory was first to arrive with Ben Razor riding shotgun as usual. In Stacy mind and from experience, Ben was a thinking man's detective. He'd comb a crime scene and most of the time, found something the CSI team had missed. Ben was a devoted family man and loved his job. Rory, on the other hand, was gregarious, fun loving and loved to eat. He kept the atmosphere light and moving with his energy. Rory was good at his job, but the job wasn't his life. The short blonde with blue eyes looking at him while he got out of his SUV was his life; if he had anything to say about it. Which he didn't have at the moment.
"Okay, it would seem that murder follows you around Stacy," said Rory walking up to the crime scene tape. Rory nodded at Dan who glared back with his own nod. Dan had a thing for Stacy as well. He realized he stood a snow ball's chance in hell, but who knows the future.
Stacy said, knowing the animosity growing between the two men, "We've a young woman murdered face down in the water on the far side of Charles Kincaid's bog. It appears she's been shot, but we best wait until Marsha arrives to determine cause of death."
Ben had said hello to Dan. Dan gave off a grin appreciating the fact a detective paid attention to a lowly police officer. He turned and smiled to Stacy who asked, "How was the vacation Ben?"
"Short and sweet as usual. We took the kids to Crater Lake for a look at the famous Wizard Island. Snow was still stacked up over our car as drove in. Next we hope to see the Grand Canyon. Sadly now we have a dead person in a bog huh?"
"Yes, and she appears young too.
Whatever happened her life was cut short by a person with a dislike for her," said Stacy as they all saw Pathologist Dr. Marsha Stone arrive with the CSI following.
Dr. Stone, for the most part, was all business. It was fairly rare that she relaxed and chatted. Today was no exception. Her grim look epitomized her distasteful job as county coroner. Stacy, when it came to murder, empathized with Marsha that a life had ended prematurely.
She almost cracked a smile upon seeing Stacy. The two of them seemed a matching pair. In their young relationship, the thinking traveled along the same lines. "Good morning Stacy. We've got another one huh?"
"Good morning Marsha. Yes, a woman on the backside of the bog is face down in the water. The only footprints would be the owner Charles Kincaid who reported the crime."
"We can ask to drain the bog, but that will really upset the owner who is in process of harvesting his crop. What I've read before is to build a dam around an area and pump the water out for inspection of any evidence. Footprints are probably not feasible as boots or waders are worn; unless it has an unusual sole. Let's let the CSI team decide. Now off to work I go."
Chief Ray took Stacy SUV back to the station. She'd ride with Rory later on after the coroner finished. Meanwhile, the three detectives sat on the back of Rory's SUV chatting. The fall weather had all the hallmarks of a typical rainy autumn. The sky had darkened just a fraction and a light rain was beginning to fall. No doubt a storm was just around the corner.
Marsha came back, took off her hip boots. She'd put on her rain coat before going to the bog and a good thing as it began to rain and blow in earnest. Huddled in the back end of Rory's SUV they listened to what she had to say, "She's young alright. I'd guess middle twenties. Nice looking with flaming red hair. She's full of freckles as most redheads are. She was shot at close range in the heart. Death would have been immediate; not that that helps much. Time of death is hard to say, but I'd guess late yesterday afternoon. I can do better at the autopsy. I saw no other marks on her face, arms or legs. Nothing under her nails to indicate a defensive fight. I'm good to go this afternoon around 3 pm. Be there or be square."
Murder Mysteries # 2 Page 8