Murder Mysteries # 2

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  Let me say this, it would have been difficult to find me if you hadn't tempted me with a chance to see my father again. I came willingly and knowingly. But it was a nice touch."

  Bits and Pieces

  They three detectives flew home on domestic airlines to North Bend. Ben acknowledged her gift of detection with a grin and a nod. Stacy smiled back saying thank you with her eyes. Rory was in dreamland thinking only if like the ending of the last case, the two of them would take a long weekend somewhere private and romantic.

  Ironically, Stacy was thinking the same thing. She felt a little sorry for her guy having to wait for rare times of intimacy. She reflected back on their trip to Bend after the last case ended.

  Neither one could use their police vehicles for personal use so Rory rented a similar SUV for the long weekend coming. Rory booked three nights in Sun River near Bend, Oregon. Sun River was renowned for its luxury and local sights. The golf course paid dearly with large chunks of turf removed by Rory's golf swing. Stacy almost pulled a stomach muscle laughing so hard. When her ball found a greenside sand trap, she told Rory she wanted her money back. 'Golf is played on green grass not sand dunes.' Rory rolled on the green laughing almost wetting his pants.

  At dinner that first night, he was as nervous as a whore in church. It was the first time in her memory he never finished his dinner. Afterwards they went for walk holding hands and chatting about how nice it was away from the coast and its perpetual wind. Stacy leaned into him and he responded in kind.

  Back in their room, he became visibly nervous. Stacy told him to relax and they watched a movie on the large TV. As in most cases, love and lust mixed together to bond young people for the first time. Lying on the bed, Stacy threw a leg over his and proceeded to make hash out of his lips.

  The movie had Tom Cruise on a train that was about to wreck. Neither Stacy nor Rory knew whether or not the train crashed, but both went over the top long before the movie ended. Afterwards, as the credits rolled across the screen, steam rose for the giant bathtub that had more than enough room for two. Later they were squeaky clean totally exhausted with the TV still on while they wrapped up in warm covers for the night.

  Both Rory and Stacy agreed to take a day off and then decide what to do. He hung his head and she said, "Tall Man, be strong and let's think about a drive down through the redwoods making a stay at the Red Lion in Eureka. Maybe they've got some fresh crab in."

  Murder by Stalk

  A Stacy Foreham Novel

  -One-

  Detective Stacy Foreham was sleeping peacefully, having a pleasant dream, when her cell phone woke her up. Like most people woken up suddenly, it felt like just getting to sleep when something rude, like a phone, wakes you up.

  Stacy put the phone to her ear and all she heard was: "Stacy, damn you, wake up. Can you hear me," said her best friend Vicki Placer screaming into the phone.

  "Yes, Vicki I hear you; what's going on," asked Stacy now coming fully awake.

  "I think somebody is trying to get into my house. I'm hiding in the closet. I'm afraid to come out. Help me please."

  "Hang on I'll have a patrol car there in a few minutes," said Stacy as she hung up and called Dan Swollow whose duty was the night shift. Dan realized something was up and didn't question why she called. He listened and noted the address turning on his flashing colored lights.

  Stacy called Vicki back and told her a car was on its way. Vicki said, "I told you a few days ago I thought someone was stalking me. You remember Carmen who transferred into Bandon our last year in high school? Well she came down to spend the weekend with me. She's in the other room and I'm afraid to come out of the closet."

  Wait for the officer to arrive and identify himself. I'm on my way in a few minutes."

  Stacy threw on some sweats and grabbed her weapon and such things and out the door she went. It was only a five minute drive to Vicki's house. When she drove up, Dan was not around and must be inside, she thought. She ran into the house to find Vicki in tears and after yelling for Dan, he told her to come back to the bedroom. Dan was standing in the doorway with the lights on starring at the scene in front of him. Stacy pushed him away and lying on the bed naked and bloody, with a large kitchen knife stuck in her chest, was Carmen Littlefoot.

  I need to console my friend Vicki, Dan, please use my cell and call these numbers informing each person, Dr. Marsha Stone. She's a pathologist and you know Rory Caltex. He's number two on my dial and she's number three. Also, call James to come on duty as soon as possible. I'll clear it with the chief," said Stacy.

  Stacy had noted the time for the record. She discovered that not twenty minutes had elapsed since Vicki had called. She went to the living room where she was laying on the sofa balled up in a fetal position hugging a throw pillow. Her night shirt was almost to her backside, but nobody was curious to have a peek at a nice set of legs.

  Vicki Placer, like Stacy and Carmen had been cheerleaders for Bandon high school their senior year. They were three of five girls who had, for the most part, remained friends. The popular Facebook kept the girls in touch. Stacy went to her knees in front of Vicki taking one of her hands into both of hers. "This is just awful Vicki. To end life at twenty-four is just not right. You've got to be strong girl. I'm with you now and forever."

  Vicki was still blubbering, but was slowly coming around. Stacy saw a box of tissue on the coffee table and ripped out a half dozen handing them to her friend. Vicki said, with hiccups, "You know Stac that when my parents died, I couldn't sleep in their room. I stayed in my old room. When friends came, I gave them the master bedroom. The killer must have thought it was me in that room. Our dear friend Carmen would be alive today if I'd been sleeping in there instead of her. The guilt trip is a heavy one." She was sitting up now with the pillow in her lap. She wiped her nose and looked down at her friend through red eyes.

  Stacy was devastated and even though some years had passed, Carmen was still living in Coos Bay working as a nurse. She'd been engaged for the last six months. Marriage was planned for June. What a sad way to begin the New Year thought Stacy.

  Dan came back in and nodded to Stacy that all was taken care of. "Dan, there's tea in the cupboard just to the right of the stove. The kettle should be on the stove. Make some water hot please," said Stacy who was now sitting next to Vicki.

  "Vicki, I was not ignoring you when you mentioned that someone might be stalking you. It was still fresh on my mind. If you're up to it, tell me all you know about what you saw, felt or heard regards someone fallowing you. Leave no detail out," said Stacy.

  Before Vicki told her story, Dan came in with two mugs and a box of tea under his arm. He said all on the coffee table. He'd forgotten the spoons so he ran back to find the tools to stir the tea. Stacy smiled at him and as usual, Dan went week at the knees when his crush flashed her smile at him. It wasn't a secret that Dan Swollow was plum enamored with Stacy Foreham. However, he had stiff competition with Detective Rory Caltex with the Oregon State Police. But that didn't stop Dan from holding out some hope in the future.

  Vicki took a healthy couple of sips and said, "As soon as this wacko finds out he killed the wrong person, he's back stalking me. Shit, what am I to do?"

  Stacy held her while she went into round two or three of the blubbers. Tears were also running down her cheeks as well. While she held her friend and waiting for Rory and Dr. Stone to arrive, a crazy thought hit her between the eyes: what if the killer didn't kill the wrong person?

  Also, Dan had told her he had to beat hard on the door to get someone to open the locked door. So, if the back door was and or is locked, how did the killer get in? At this point it was prudent just to sit and wait until the CSI team arrived and the others who are, or should be arriving any time now.

  She called her father the chief to let him know what was what. He answered on the first ring. "I'm listening," he said.

  She told him where she was and why she was there. In two minutes he had all she knew at that p
oint in time. He said, "I'll mosey over now that I'm awake."

  Vicki had finally quit crying. Stacy asked, "Tell me what you heard that made you hide in the closet."

  "I first heard a thumping noise," her face turned red while she continued, "like when my parents were making love on that old bed. At first I thought I was dreaming and then I heard a quite loud groaning noise. That's when I got scared thinking someone was robbing the house. I didn't hear anything else as I hid in the closet. I instantly called you. The next thing I heard was Dan banging on the front door. Before I went to the door, the light was on in Carmen's room. The door was open and I looked in and saw blood all over the bed. I ran to the front door crying and that's all I know."

  "We'll discuss the issue of being stalked a little later. I hear cars coming and soon the house will be full of people. Just sit here and drink tea. I'll take care of everything," Stacy said walking to the front door.

  Rory Caltex, detective Oregon State Police, stood in the doorway with a grim look on his face. Police officer Dan had told him the victim was a personal friend of Stacy's. Rory had heard Stacy remark about Vicki being her best friend. At first he thought the worse that it was Vickie that was a victim and he felt pity or grief for Stacy losing a best friend. All of that didn't change much even when he found out it wasn't Vicki but another friend Carmen Littlefoot of Coos Bay who lay on her back, legs spread, blood everywhere and a large knife sticking handle up out of the young woman's chest.

  Later, when he found out that it was entirely possible that the killer mistook the person in the master bedroom to be Vicki Placer and not Carmen Littlefoot, that didn't make him feel much better.

  Stacy said, as he entered the house, "This really hits too close to home Tall Man. I've got a really bad feeling about this case already. Vicki has been a victim of a stalker and now our friend lies dead in Vicki's master bedroom. Is it a question of mistaken identity or is this the beginning of a serial killer. What would be the motive here anyway? Was it a matter of rape; which appears to have happened to Carmen; or was it or is it a systematic elimination of girls who were cheerleaders of the Bandon High School class of 2006/7?"

  "I hear Dr. Stone coming now. Let's move out of the way. Is Vicki coherent enough to answer some questions," asked Rory.

  "Maybe she is. Regardless, she needs me close by. Let's go into the living room and out of the hallway."

  Dr. Marsha Stone came in with the same look on her face as did Rory: grim and certainly not happy to have been rooted out of bed long before the light of day arrived. Both she and Stacy nodded in greeting as she and team passed by for a cursory look before she let the photographer do his job.

  Marsha came back and asked, "I wonder why we never stopped for coffee?"

  "I already spoiled the stove by warming tea up for my friend Vicki Placer. This is her house, by the way. The dead girl is a friend of ours, Carmen Littlefoot. She's a nurse and lives in Coos Bay. Let me make you a cup of instant crystals. I know my way around here very well," said Stacy.

  Both Marsha and Rory went into the living room where Vicki was still sitting on the sofa hugging her pillow. Marsha went over and sat down besides her putting her arm around the young woman. Vicki didn't object, but laid her head against Marsha and tears rolled down her face once again. Like a concerned mother, Marsha patted Vicki's arm and whispered things into Vickie's ear. Rory noticed that soon after Vicki stopped crying. At the same time, Stacy walked in with two hot cups of coffee. Rory flashed a big smile of thanks. Marsha did the same.

  Stacy pulled up a foot stool and Rory found an uncomfortable small arm chair that nobody in their right mind would ever sit in. It was designed back in the 1950s to accommodate a visitor for a short period of time. Be that as it may, Rory wanted in on the conversation and not sitting at the end of the sofa. He heard Stacy say, "Vicki called me a few days ago to alert me that she felt sure a guy was stalking her. She told me she had no idea who it was because he always was out of sight when she looked his way. Vicki teaches psychology at SWOCC. This stalking will reveal the killer I think."

  "I have to go now. I'll be back in a little while." Marsha turned to Vicki and said, "Be strong girl. We can overcome anything we put our minds to." Vicki looked up at Marsha and smiled.

  Marsha hurried off and Stacy said to Vicki, "This is going to be a tough time for all of us, but especially you. We'll need your class lists, class schedule and see if anyone you have in one of your classes has a particular liking to you. The sooner we start looking for this guy the better Vic. Start at the beginning when you first thought someone was following you."

  -Two-

  "I first noticed, or felt someone was following me after my class on a Tuesday night." Stacy noticed, as Vicki paused for a few seconds, she was regaining control of her emotions. Rory was taking notes. "I was walking with another faculty member to our cars in the parking lot. He opened the exit door for me when I glanced back seeing a person quickly move out of my peripheral vision. The people behind us were walking in a straight line and this guy, in tan pants, dodged to the right. I didn't think much about it until after turning left onto Newmark St. I could see the lights behind me staying at my speed. I first thought of a cop following, but I was doing the speed limit. I turned on 101 to head home and I noticed again the lights of a car keeping pace with me. I tried to shake it off as being paranoid, but these days one must be careful.

  As you well know, at nine pm on a Tuesday night, 101 to Bandon after leaving Coos Bay the traffic is light. I kept watching my mirror and way back this car was doing the same speed I was. I decided to increase my speed to sixty-two and set my cruise control. I maintained that speed until the top of the hill where a long straightaway goes almost to Bandon. I increased to sixty-six and set the cruise again. To my mounting fear, the car kept my pace.

  When I turned right to drop down the hill into Bandon the car behind me came quickly upon my tail and kind of made me nervous. I decided to go through Old Town and up the hill to see if he would follow me. He didn't follow me and I gave off a big sigh of relief. I relaxed and drove home. I backed into my driveway and shut off the car lights. I've a timer on my porch door light and a motion detector light above the garage.

  Just as I got out of my car and locked it, I saw a car coming down the street from the Loop Road direction. Now I can tell you at ten pm on a weekday it's rare to see a car on our street. The car drove by as I was opening my front door. I looked and saw it was a silver color and a fairly late model car. I couldn't see the driver at all. I looked for a license plate number and the plate was dark with no light. I quickly went inside and locked the door.

  I didn't sleep well at all and then the next day I called Stacy. She was busy at the time, but I left a message to call me. Anyway, at school the next day I was busy with classes and left around four pm. It was still light out. I watched for traffic following me, but nothing appeared out of the ordinary. But the next night was a repeat of the Tuesday night affair." Rory saw her take a deep breath and he was not blind to see through the red tear stained eyes and mussed hair, Vicki was a lovely young woman. She had dark brown hair with red highlights hanging to her shoulders. Her skin was almost bronze akin to a Pacific Islander.

  "After class was a repeat of the Tuesday night scene. I walked out with my colleague to the parking lot. I glanced behind me, but didn't see anyone. However, I could feel someone was following me. To make a long story short, I repeated my speed like before and the lights behind me did a carbon copy. When I arrived in Bandon, I went up the hill to New Town and turned down Beach Loop Rd. The car didn't follow me up the hill but went into Old Town. Like before I back into my driveway and sat there for a minute to see if anyone was coming either way. All was quiet so I got out and hurried to my door. Here came the same car as the like before. He drove slowly by and the license plate was all dark. I made sure the doors were locked and the windows too. Like before, I slept badly and really needed to talk to Stacy," as she looked up at her friend. Stacy
reached out and squeezed her wrist and nodded to continue.

  "I called the next day and left another message on your phone. Then in-between classes the next day was when Carmen called me. She had the weekend off and wanted to spend it with me. I was so excited that I completely forgot about the stalker guy. I picked her up after school and we had dinner last night. The rest you know," Vicki said losing her grip on being strong like Marsha suggested.

  Stacy noticed Marsha coming out of the back looking like a stern teacher who had just flunked the entire class for bad scores. Marsha said, sitting down with Vicki putting her arm around her like before, "Your friend was raped and then killed quickly. She fought back and I saw skin under her fingernails. There's no doubt we'll get his DNA and I hope that leads to the killers ID. I'm very sorry girls the loss of a good friend. I need not tell you to be careful Vicki."

  "I plan on it Dr. Stone. It's hard for me to stay in this house without my parents anyway. Now to have a friend murdered in my parents' bedroom, I can't stay here any longer by myself."

  "You are coming home with me Vicki," said Stacy. Until we catch this guy, you'll be under police protection."

  Rory looked up and saw his partner Ben Razor walk in. Ben had been delayed as he'd went to Reedsport to visit his wife's parents for the weekend.

  "Hi Ben. Meet Stacy's friend Vicki Placer. This is her house and in the back master bedroom a friend of both Stacy and Vicki was murdered by what we think is a stalker. Before I fill you in, check in the kitchen where the perp entered through the window. The CSI guys are back in the bedroom. Snoop around a little," said Rory.