As the years went by, I hear it was a tragedy all around. Stephen was hospitalized, an asylum of some sort. He was pretty broken up about his sister. Sheriff Kane’s second son ran away from home the day after his sister disappeared and his wife died of a broken heart. I never asked Caitlyn about her recollection of the incident when we were together. Hell, she never even brought it up and now, well, there just hasn’t been an opportunity nor the need to ask her about it. You of course, as her friend, could ask.” He reached across the desk and handed Jesse the post-it note.
“That’s all very interesting,” Jesse said tapping her pencil on a notebook she’d been writing in. That’ll give me some background on the Kane’s. Tell me again who I can talk to about Beth’s disappearance. I’d like some more background about the night she vanished.”
“I looked at the file after our last meeting. You can touch base with Sarah Jackson and Rodney Keith. Sarah and Rodney were girlfriend and boyfriend at the time. They were on the houseboat that night.
Rodney lives over on the south side of the lake near you. He’s the caretaker for his family’s lake house. His family has a summer house here and a more permanent residence now in New York. I heard that Sarah is coming in from Nashville this weekend to visit. She’s probably going to be at their summer house. Either person should be able to recount to you what happened that night. The only others involved that night were Caitlyn, her brother Michael and Curtis.
Unfortunately, Curtis was killed a few years back while he was a student at UT; an unsolved hit and run.”
“Where did Stephen go to school?”
“University of Tennessee. They all went there.”
“So what would you suggest as my next step?”
“If I were you, I would start with George. Sheriff Springer lives next to the lake house where Caitlyn is staying. It’s the one with the blue shutters. If you don’t get the information you need from him, I’ll personally take you over to see John Kane, Beth’s father.”
“I’ll take your advice. How will I know Sheriff Springer?”
“He’s about 60 with a white hair and a full mustache with a pronounced limp. He uses a cane. Think grumpy old walrus and you’ll have the right guy.”
“Thanks. I’ll give you a call if I turn up anything interesting.”
“You do that and tell him I sent you. He may be more forthcoming if he knows you are linked with his old department.”
“Well, sheriff. Wish me luck.” Jesse said, stood and waved at Deann as she left the office.
About 30 minutes later, Jesse stood on the wrap around front porch of a large white cottage house with blue shutters. It was built on the north shore of Norris Lake. The circa 1840 post and beam house mixed the treasures of the past blending seamlessly with the comforts of today.
The deck wrapped around the house from back to front, so the user could enjoy both morning and afternoon sun.
From the porch she could see a well-manicured flower garden with a arbor and a swing. The garden was encircled with a low brick wall. A covered held a white patio set and was enveloped with thick green ivy. The water came up to the bank lapping quietly against an embankment of stones the size of softballs. It was a man-made embankment endeavoring to forestall the effects of ongoing waves.
At a weathered wooden dock squatted a bright blue wooden dinghy with white trim. At its bow was a trolling motor and on the back a small black and red evinrude. The aft end of the boat boasted the name, Bluebell. On the wooden seat was a battered green tacklebox, well-worn, and two fishing poles rigged and ready for the next cast.
The cottage was about 200 feet from the cove. The water’s gray mirrored surface reflected the surrounding green pines and echoed the lake homes on the near shore. A set of stairs from the deck led down to the dock. Below that was about 50 foot of lovely brown pea pebbled beach.
Jesse leaned in to ring the bell, the door opened and a tall white haired man stood in the door opening. “May I help you?”
“I am Jesse James. I am looking for George Springer.”
“I give up. Is this a robbery?” his brow furrowed in concern and he held his hands up in mock surrender.
“That’s an old joke,” Jess said smiling.
“Some people say the same thing about me,” George quipped lowering his hands. “What can I do you for, lovely lady?”
“Sheriff O’Donnell gave me your name. He thinks you might be able to share some information with me.
“Yes, well, well, well, I knew I liked that boy!. Look what Ben sent me; a beautiful woman to share my afternoon.”
“Are you George Springer?”
“That would be me.”
“Ben said you might be able to help me with an incident that happened over twenty years ago; a disappearance, or maybe a murder. It involved the Kane family, Mr. Springer.”
A frown marred his brown face, “Come in Ms. James. I served this town for 30 plus years, first as deputy and then later as sheriff. I took the sherrifin’ job right after the Kane family left town. My best friend was John Kane. I can share with you what I know, but you’ll have to decide if there was or was not a murder. I for one am still not sure. And you can call me George or Jo-Jo.”
”Thank you. And please, call me Jesse,” she said as she entered the cottage. “You have a beautiful home.”
“I appreciate your opinion. I spent a great deal of my life here. After my wife died 10 years ago, I had no reason to live close to town and moved on over here so I could fish every day. It’s relaxing.”
“Yes, I have a home on the south side of the lake much like this one. I like looking at the water. It brings me peace.”
“When I retired I thought the same thing; that the lake would bring peace. That was before happenings of the past year’s disappearances. I can’t help but feel continued responsibility to the town.” He lowered himself into a brown leather rocking chair and reached for a pack of coronas. “But back to your business; please have a seat,” gesturing to a worn blue and brown plaid sofa.
“Cigar?” He offered.
“No thank you, but you go ahead. I like the smell of a cigar.”
“A woman after my own heart. Don’t tell me you also like to fish?”
“Actually, I do. Now, what can you tell me about the Kane family?” she said sitting back in her chair and taking out a white notebook and pen from her bag. “Do you mind if I take notes?”
“No ma’am, but I am trusting you not to misquote me. You’re not one of those big city reporters are you?” George queried taking a long draw on his cigar.
“No, but I am a writer. This information may one day become material for a book. If that happens, I promise I will share it with you first.” Jesse assured him.
“That’s your word? Well that’s good enough for me. Now what can I share? Let’s start with the basics. There was John Kane, his wife, Marie, two boys and a little girl. You know about the daughter, Beth. She was 17 when she disappeared which was about 20 plus years ago this fall. The law and the townsfolk assumed that she was dead. Her remains were never found.”
“Tell me about the rest of the family.”
“Soon after Beth disappeared, Stephen, his oldest boy was hospitalized for depression. John moved to Johnson City, which is north of Norris. John was the town sheriff until his wife died. Her car was hit by a drunk driver. After that, his son, Jeremy, ran off. We heard later that the boy ended up in California. He was just a child when his sister, Beth died and then when the older boy was gone, the young one took the brunt of the grief from both his parents. Jeremy was a lonely angry boy full of anger and resentment. It was his sister dying and his family breaking up that drove the boy off. The last I knew, John never heard from the boy again.
About five years ago, John had a stroke while on the job and was put into a nursing home. Some say it was the pressure from the job, but others say it was the booze. He started drinking when his first child died of pneumonia at a young age. Then when the incident with
Beth happened, it got progressively worse. He really stepped it up right after his wife died. It wasn’t noticeable on the job but long term it took its toll. I’ve been many times to see John and I have tried to find Jeremy for him over the years. But, I’ve had no luck on finding Jeremy and John is now un-responsive. He’s still alive but it would be hard to prove. I am still hopeful that Jeremy will either come home someday or at least come see his father before he dies. It would give John some peace of mind.”
“So what happened to the other son, Stephen?”
“Stephen was more than hospitalized. He was committed to an asylum after Beth’s disappearance. Beth and Stephen were similar in age and very close. What with the accusations that he’d killed his sister and the shame he’d brought on his family, what boy could handle that type of pressure?
Stephen couldn’t handle it and as a result became unmanageable. He turned to drugs and was severely depressed eventually he became suicidal. It wasn’t unexpected given his history. John always felt badly about committing the boy, but it was for the best and the boy’s own protection. After about two years, Stephen was released. I don’t know what happened to him after that. He and his father weren’t close after all the trouble.”
“What was Beth like?” Jesse said as she continued to write.
“She was a bright light. People were drawn to her like moths to a flame. Everyone was her friend and whenever you saw her you had to smile. She was a positive, trusting soul. If she was murdered, she didn’t deserve it.”
“Was she murdered?”
“I honestly don’t know. In the end, the townsfolk said her brother killed her. I don’t believe that to be true. I knew the boy. He idolized her and was so broken hearted when she disappeared that he couldn’t live with it. It was too much for him to bear, I suppose.”
“Did you know Michael Tarlington?”
“Not well. He was a popular school jock. The captain of the football team. Well-liked but arrogant and didn’t do well with responsibility, as with many rich kids. I remember the time he wrecked his new Camaro but wouldn’t admit it was his fault. We all knew he did it but I guarantee he would have stuck to that lie like gum on the bottom of your shoe before he confessed to any type of wrongdoing in front of his father.
Robert Tarlington pushed the kid hard. Michael had to be the best at everything, but the kid had a hard time measuring up. I overheard a couple of conversations between them a time or two. The kid was a handful and the only law the old man knew was his own strong hand, if you know what I mean.”
“Yes unfortunately I do. That’s hard on a young man.”
“Well, while the townsfolk directed the blame at Stephen Kane, there were some that felt Michael was the one responsible. He was, after all, Beth’s boyfriend and the last to see her.”
“Can you tell me about Caitlyn, Rodney, Sarah and Curtis ?”
“They were a clique back in those days. You didn’t see Caitlyn without Sarah and Beth. Michael, Rodney and Curtis were all in separable. After that night on the houseboat, the group literally broke up. There was something they shared but didn’t want to talk to each other about.”
“What do you suspect?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Don’t listen to the ramblings of an old fart like me. I have forgotten more than I ever knew.”
Jesse sighed. “Seems like Beth’s disappearance was a tragedy all the way around.”
“I would agree with you on that.”
“So tell me some more about Stephen. I heard from Sheriff O’Donnell that he was adopted by Sheriff Kane.”
“Ah, yes; Stephen. He was a unique individual. He was exceptionally brilliant. John had the boy tested. His I.Q. was far in excess of genius; off the charts. The boy was extraordinary. Of course, genius walks a fine line between brilliance and insanity. We’ll never know which side he chose.”
“I have heard that his looks were peculiar. What does that mean?”
“Think about the world thirty years ago. You had four channels available on TV. There were no cell phones. Gasoline cost less than a quarter a gallon. There was no such thing as a computer. Airline travel was infrequent. There were no malls. A college degree was a rarity. Polio and influenza killed thousands. Crosses were burned in the yards of blacks and purported witches. The times were much different than they are today. Stephen had almost white blonde hair, pale skin and light eyes. He was also almost totally deaf.”
“So he was extremely different. So what?”
“He wasn’t just light. He was albino and was almost ethereal like a ghost. His mannerisms were a little strange almost as if he were from another time. It wouldn’t be an issue these days, but remember the times. Most people are suspicious and cruel to anyone who isn’t like them. It’s a reflection of pack mentality and he wasn’t part of the pack.”
“Ok, tell me more about the Tarlington family.”
“The Tarlington’s are one of the founding families for the town; very well-known, well-connected and rich. Rumor is that Robert’s grandfather knew about the TVA plan to flood the valley and took advantage of the knowledge. He squashed the existing owners’ ability to purchase new farms on the outskirts of Norris. Once he made sure he didn’t have any competition, he bought up as much of the land around the lake. As possible, those who wouldn’t sell, he forced them out. I hear that Robert’s father followed suit and was also a land developer, but even more heartless.
The Tarlington’s own several of the lake houses and uses them as rentals. They also own much of downtown area and have an interest in several large farms nearby. You know Caitlyn, but not Robert. He’s one mean son-of-a-bitch if you get on his bad side. He’s nice to your face while he’s preparing to stab you in the back. I have seen him give a little old lady a loan on her house and then when she defaults, force her out on to the street without a second thought.”
“Sounds like a nice guy. I’ve met Caitlyn and she seems untouched.”
“She takes after her mother and didn’t face the same pressures as her brother to be perfect. Her father treated her like a china doll; beautiful but incapable. He only expected her to find a husband at college; not actually pursue a degree. She took it on her own to become both educated and successful. Her father respects her now but it was because of her own hard work and determination.”
“And Beth’s mother?”
“Kathy and Robert divorced after the kids graduated from high school. Michael stayed with Robert and Caitlyn moved away with Kathy. I think the stress of dealing with Robert’s temper and the town’s condemnation was too much for Kathy’s side of the marriage. Then she remarried a high powered divorce attorney in Memphis. We don’t see her much around here anymore.”
“What about the night of Beth’s disappearance? What can you tell me about it?”
“Not much. The kids were out on a houseboat and Beth went ashore. There was a massive hunt for her but she was never seen again after that night. Nobody was ever found but it was assumed that she met with foul play primarily because she was up for home coming queen and would have graduated the following spring with a full scholarship to Duke. There would have been no reason for her to run away.”
“This has been very helpful,” Jesse said putting away her notebook and pen.
“Is that all? No more questions?” George stubbed out his cigar.
“That’s all I have for now, but I hope I can come back and speak with you again if I have more questions.”
“I would adore it. I have enjoyed spending a few moments with such a beautiful woman. Can I interest you in a six pack and a chair outside on the dock? We could watch the water and talk about my brilliant career as a lawman.”
“Tell me, George. What would it take for you to ask me to go fishing?”
“Be still my heart. It’s the big one coming…It would be an honor to have you share my dock. Would you also stay for dinner? I make a mean Domino’s pizza.”
“I would love to.” Jesse smiled genuinely pleased.
The campus police found the body of a young woman wrapped in a green carpet in her car parked in one of the student commuter lots.
“How long has she been here?” the campus police officer asked the Medical Examiner.
“She’s been here at least a week.”
“How long has she been dead?”
“I can’t be sure until I get her on an examination table, but the same I would be my guess. I can tell you that she wasn’t killed in the car. She was murdered elsewhere, rolled up in the carpet and driven here.”
“They probably left her in the student lot because the majority of the kids park their cars here at the beginning of the semester and then don’t move them until it’s time to go home for break.”
“Cause of death?”
“A sharp knife. Her throat was cut. I can also tell you she’d recently had intercourse and was covered with oil. What ever happened looks like a ritual killing,” the Medical Examiner continued. “I’ve seen this sort of thing before in Los Angeles when we were investigating murders by a religious cult.”
A Knoxville Metro officer pulled up and got out his car. “Hey Charlie,” he said to the Medical Examiner.
“Same to you Kurt.” Charlie pulled the latex gloves from his hands. “Third body today. The moon must be full.”
“What do you know, Captain,” Kurt smiled patting the campus police officer on the back.
“She was killed elsewhere, wrapped in a carpet and dumped in this lot in her own car. She has been dead about a week; throat cut. Charlie thinks it may have been ritual murder,” the Captain explained.
“Any identification?” Kurt asked.
“Not yet. There was a purse in the car but nothing of importance in it. No driver’s license, no credit cards, no money. We did find a couple of pieces of men’s clothing, a pair of tennis shoes and a watch,” Charlie offered.
Coming Home (Norris Lake Series) Page 22