Gorgon

by Mary Ann Poll

  “I don’t think we can say the same about the attic.” Bart pointed to the doorway. A small pool of blood lay in front of it like a gruesome welcome mat.

  In contrast with the bright sunlight outside, the attic was steeped in deep darkness. The smell of iron, mixed with a sickening sweet scent filled the air. Bart flicked on the flashlight. The walls were splattered with red droplets. “Guess we found where the victim met her end.”

  Ken reached into his other pocket and pulled out four plastic booties. “Thought we might need these.”

  “Man, I forgot all about those. Shoddy police work to say the least.” Bart slipped the blue plastic bonnets over his tennis shoes.

  “Someone could have come in there.” Ken pointed to a broken window.

  “It never got fixed. This town was shut down and boarded up right after Iconoclast was sent to hell where he belongs. There was a board over it.” Bart walked over to the small opening, and took a breath of the fresh air coming through the window. The clean scent was a welcome contrast to the death scent surrounding them.

  “Okay, so who needs a window unboarded?”

  “Someone who wants a quick escape?”

  “Not unless they can fly.” Ken looked out the small window at the one-foot roof edge. “The drop’s at least twenty feet.”

  Bart ran his eyes over a honey-colored oak table filled with antique snowshoes and ivory carvings. “Doesn’t look like someone broke in here for quick cash. This stuff would bring a pretty penny in any pawn shop.”

  “Something’s missing.” Ken pointed to a circle of clean wood on the otherwise dusty table.

  “The miniature of the rock,” Bart said.

  “You know, this is feeling way too familiar.” Ken picked up a book with his gloved hand. “The Book of Fallen Angels,” he read aloud.

  “No way! It disappeared a month after the battle with Iconoclast.” Bart tucked it under his arm. “Won’t be disappearing again.”

  “Seems less and less likely this is where our victim died.” Ken pointed to mounds of shrew carcasses scattered about the pinewood floor.

  “Who would have taken the time to do this?”

  “I’m going with the crazy person who killed our Jane Doe. Looks like practice.”

  Bart snapped pictures of the tiny corpses. He turned angry eyes to Ken. “Let’s go find this sick son of a gun.”

  Kat hurried through the incident report and shut down her computer. She pulled her windbreaker off the back of her chair and strode to the breakroom to check the coffeepot. The brass bell announced a visitor. “For the love of all mothers.” Kat clip-clopped to the reception area.

  Mandy Thomas stood at the door. “I think I had a break-in.”

  “Something stolen?”

  “No.”

  “Well then why do you think someone broke into your house?”

  “It’s more like something was put there.”

  “I don’t have time for this.” Kat headed for the door.

  “I know, I know. It sounds crazy.” Mandy held up a bejeweled white stone jar.

  Kat walked around the railing separating the waiting area from the work area and took a closer look. She raised her eyes to Mandy.“Seems you’d remember something like this.”

  “I sure would.”

  “Do you have any idea what it is?”

  “Never seen it before.” Mandy stuck the object back in an oversized carry bag.

  The door chimed again. “Detective Dayton?”

  “Just the girls I came to see.”

  “I’m not sure I can say the same to you. What’s so important you needed to show up in person?”

  “I got a call from Chief Melbourne. He said the statue showed up here.”

  “A statue showed up here,” Kat said through clenched teeth. “We could have shipped you the statue so I still don’t understand why you’re here.”

  “We’ve had another homicide connected to you, Ms. Thomas.” Dayton fixed his eyes on Mandy. “I don’t believe in happenstance. And I just can’t shake the belief that your town is connected to what’s happening in Anchorage.”

  “What do you mean by ‘what’s happening’?”

  “The recent death in Ravens Cove is too similar to the Spawldine case to dismiss.”

  “Anything else?”

  “As a matter of fact. It seems, Ms. Thomas, you knew this last victim, too.”

  “Who?”

  “A man named Justin Roverson.”

  Mandy paled and lowered herself into a waiting room chair. Tears sprang to her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. She buried her head in her hands. “It can’t be.”

  Detective Dayton produced a crime scene photo and shoved it in Mandy’s direction. “Does this man look familiar?”

  Kat caught Dayton’s hand and lowered the photo. “Let’s do this in the back.”

  He slapped the snapshot to his side. “Lead the way.”

  Kat guided Mandy through the swinging gate. “Show him to the breakroom, will you, Mandy? I’ll be right there.”

  Mandy and Detective Dayton disappeared inside the small space that doubled as the interrogation room. She punched numbers into the desk phone and whispered. “Get here and quick. Detective Dayton is in the office and has Mandy under interrogation.”

  “Two minutes away.” Ken gripped the SUV’s steering wheel. “Call Wendy. Then, get in there so she has a witness,” he told Kat.

  “What’s up?” Bart read the cloud of anger on Ken’s features.

  “The detective from Anchorage has shown up and has Mandy in our office.”

  “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”

  “Don’t you have a mayor’s job to do?”

  Bart’s shoulders sagged. “Probably. I’ll walk from the station. Just get there.”

  “I know Anchorage is connected. But how?”

  “You just asked the question of the year.” Bart turned and faced Ken. “This is going to sound bad, but I’m glad it’s not just Ravens Cove this time. I was beginning to think we are all under a mass hallucination or we were in some kind of alternate reality.”

  “I’ve felt that way more than once about this town.”

  Ken wheeled the SUV up to the curb in front of the police station. He turned off the ignition and kept his hands on the steering wheel. He contemplated three ravens coming in low, one tipped a wing at his vehicle, then all three flew upward toward the blue sky. What’s it like to be carefree? Maybe someday I’ll know. Until then, I’ll fight this battle and any other that comes my way!

  “Our people are on the way.” Kat’s sweet smile contradicted the challenge in her eyes.

  A tight grin crossed Dayton’s face. “Glad you thought to call. Don’t think it was necessary, though.”

  “I think it was very necessary.” Ken leaned against the doorway and crossed his arms.

  “And you are?” Dayton asked.

  “Kenneth Melbourne.”

  “Why does is the FBI need to be here for me to talk to Ms. Thomas?”

  “I am a consultant to Ravens Cove in the absence of a full-time police chief.”

  “I see.”

  “So what brings you to our fair town, Detective Dayton?”

  “Seems another of Ms. Thomas’s acquaintances has met a tragic end.”

  Ken leveled his gaze on Mandy. “Is this true?”

  Mandy raised red-rimmed eyes to Ken’s piercing blue ones. “If it is who he says, yes.”

  “I was trying to show her the photo so she could ID the victim before I ask any more questions.”

  “Mind if I take a look?”

  “Be my guest.” Dayton held out the print.

  Ken pushed the photo back into Dayton’s hand. “You have nothing a little less graphic?”

  “Not with me.”

  “Of course not.” Ken gave Dayton a knowing look. “Mandy, this photo is, for lack of a better term, gruesome. You need to be strong.”

  “NO. Why do I have to identify him? His family
can confirm who he is!”

  “His family did. I need to know this is the same Justin Roverson Ms. Thomas knows.”

  “And if she doesn’t give you what you want?” Kat whispered.

  “I’ll take her back to Anchorage until I’m sure she’s not involved.”

  “Can he?” Kat asked Ken.

  Ken nodded.

  Kat took Mandy’s hand and squeezed. “I’m right here.”

  Mandy gave a slight nod. Dayton put the photo on the laminate table top.

  The lifeless eyes of a young man stared skyward. A deep cut started at one ear, traveled across his throat, and ended at the opposite ear. The pale flesh revealed tissue the color of bone. Mandy threw her hand over her mouth. “That’s him.” She burst into fresh tears.

  “How did you know him?” Kat asked.

  “He was another one of the many men you had your claws into. Wasn’t he, Ms. Thomas?”

  Ken tilted his head. “Another one?”

  “I see you don’t know this lady’s arrangements with men. Let’s just say she had a few gentlemen who saw fit to be generous enough to provide her with a very comfortable lifestyle.” Dayton spat in disgust.

  “Mandy? Tell him it’s not true.” Kat searched Mandy’s eyes.

  “You make it sound much worse than it was.” Mandy glared at Detective Dayton. “I cared about Justin. We were going to get married.”

  “Convenient—since your supposed fiancé is no longer able to speak for himself.”

  “Back off a little, detective. When did you find this man?”

  “Yesterday. And you know who had to find him like this?” Dayton pounded the eight-by-ten photo with his index finger. “His mother!”

  “Poor woman.” Kat’s voice cracked with emotion.

  “Why do you think Mandy’s involved?” Ken asked. “She was in Ravens Cove.”

  “I don’t know how. I just know she is.”

  “I’m not involved! I loved Justin. I wouldn’t hurt him!”

  “So you keep saying. If I had any hard evidence, I’d whisk you off to Anchorage, throw you in jail, and lose the key. Believe me when I say, if you’re involved I’ll make sure you don’t see the light of day for years—maybe a lifetime.”

  “This is the real reason you made the trip?”

  Dayton turned to Kat. “Yes—and to take a look at the figurine you have in your possession.”

  Kat jumped up and marched over to Ken. “You called him and didn’t think it was important to let me know?”

  Ken cringed.”It slipped my mind. I’m sorry.”

  “Slipped your mind?”

  “Yes.” Ken turned to Dayton. “It’s not in her possession. I have it in my office.” Ken ducked out and returned with the snake-adorned statue.

  Dayton donned a pair of reading glasses. He scratched on the surface of the cream-colored stone, then looked at his nail. Nothing came off. “Looks real.”

  “What a relief,” Kat said. Sarcasm dripped from every word.

  “What does this mean?” Dayton pointed to the name under the statue.

  “Some kind of vampire-like woman, from what I’m hearing.” Ken sighed. Here we go again—X Files eat your hearts out.

  “Okay, then. So, someone wants us to think there’s a beautiful vampire murdering men in Anchorage?”

  “Maybe.”

  Dayton scratched his right cheek. “Well, they’re doing a pretty good job. The Anchorage ME found no other reason for the complete loss of blood from Justin except for a bite mark—with human characteristics. His throat was cut as an afterthought.”

  Ken shook his head. “I’m beginning to understand why you think Ravens Cove is connected to your murders. Come with me. There’re some photos I think you should see.”

  Kat spun on Mandy. “What have you gotten yourself—and me—into? What are you doing, Mandy, and who are you doing it for?”

  “I don’t know how the statue ended up here. I don’t know anything except the men in my life are dying.”

  “Why don’t I believe you? I’ll tell you why! Because every time I do, I find out you’ve been keeping something else a secret.”

  “Sorry, Kat.”

  “Let me tell you something, Amanda Hareling-Thomas. If I find out you’re involved in these atrocities, you’ll wish you’d never set foot into my life again. I’ll personally drag your skinny body to this jail and call Dayton to come and get you!” Kat crossed her arms glowered at Mandy.

  “Understood.”

  “Time will tell. Right now, you need to tell Ken about the break-in.”

  Mandy dug the jar back out of her bag and shoved it into Kat’s hand. “Give it to him. I don’t care if I ever see it again.”

  “Can Mandy leave?” Kat yelled out.

  “Yes. Just not the town.”

  “I know the routine. I’m not going anywhere,” Mandy said.

  The slamming of the station’s door almost succeeded in drowning out the annoying chime of the brass bell. “WHERE’S MANDY?” Wendy shoved the gate and walked through.

  “Calm down. I’m right here.”

  “What have you gotten yourself into this time?”

  “Nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Seriously?” Kat looked at Mandy then to Wendy.

  Wendy dug her fingers into Mandy’s arm and shook it. “Up until now I’ve shut my mouth about your stupid choices. I thought you’d outgrow this wild side. I guess I’m the stupid one. You are in trouble, Mandy. Do you understand? You could go to jail. Are you hearing me?”

  Kat gave Wendy’s hand a gentle shove. “Stop, please. She’s had a bad shock. Take her home.” Kat held up her hand. “Let me finish.”

  “Fine. Finish what you need to say.”

  “Mandy, you tell your big sister everything—and I mean everything. You need family now.”

  Mandy’s lips narrowed into a hard line. “I don’t.”

  “If you don’t tell her, I will. You won’t like my take on what’s going on here.”

  Mandy crossed her arms and glared at Kat. “I’ll do it.”

  “When?”

  “How about right now?” Wendy said.

  “How about right after you tell Ken about the break-in?”

  “You had a break-in and you didn’t call me?” Wendy screamed.

  Ken appeared at his office door. “What break-in?”

  Kat sighed and held up a large evidence bag. “Mandy says someone left this at her house.”

  “So, nothing was taken and something was left?” Ken cocked his head to the left and raised an eyebrow.

  “It happened to me; why not her?” Kat asked.

  “We’ll talk about your break-in later.” He turned to Mandy. “Did you handle the jar without gloves?”

  “Yes.”

  “Of course you did. Hopefully we can still find a fingerprint that doesn’t belong to you. How’d you get it here?”

  “In this.” Mandy held up her oversized tote bag.

  “Dandy.” Ken took the evidence bag from Kat and looked it over.

  “Where’s the missing piece?”

  “What missing piece?”

  Ken pointed to jagged edges of red wax on the jar’s lid.

  “I didn’t open it!”

  “Don’t lie to me.”

  “Okay. I opened it and there was nothing inside. It was missing a piece when I found it.”

  “I’m going to need to see your house. You gonna make time?”

  “You bet she is,” Wendy said.

  “Mandy?”

  “I don’t see why not.”

  “Good. While I’m there, take her somewhere, Wendy. Jo’s, your house—I don’t care, just keep her out of trouble before she’s thrown in jail for a long, long time. I’ll get in touch with you when I’m done.”

  “Can I get a copy of this?” Dayton shook the police report.

  “I think we can manage.” Ken looked at Kat.

  “I’m sure you can manage, police chief. I’m off the clock.�
�� She smiled sweetly at him.

  Ken took the report from Dayton’s outstretched hand. “I’ll be right back.”

  Dayton turned to Mandy. “Stay in touch, Ms. Thomas.”

  “Sure thing.” Mandy pushed through the gate.

  “See you later, KittyKat,” Wendy said as she and Mandy disappeared out the door and into the late-afternoon sun.

  “Here you go.” Ken handed the copy to Dayton.

  “Thanks. I’ll be going too.” Dayton stopped. “No matter what you think, Ms. Tovslosky, I would like Mandy Thomas to be innocent. Your friend just happens to be in the middle of a brutal cyclone and keeps surfacing as the eye of the storm.”

  “I know you have a job to do. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

  Dayton nodded to Ken. “I’m going to be around—at least until tomorrow. Is there a way I can talk to the doc who autopsied your victim?”

  “His name is Doctor Billings. Shouldn’t be a problem unless the body’s already on its way to Anchorage.”

  “Here’s my number.” Dayton handed Ken a business card. “Call me when you know?”

  “Wait a minute!” Ken ducked into his office and returned with a small evidence bag.

  “What you got?”

  “Think it’s the jar’s missing piece.”

  Ken removed the red wax and placed it against the hole. “Perfect fit.”

  “Is that the piece you found at the ravine?”

  “The same.”

  “You telling me Mandy was there?”

  “I don’t know. I do know this jar was. But why?” Ken was speaking more to himself than Kat.

  “It sure looks old.”

  “Was it something the antique dealer had in her shop?”

  “I didn’t see it when I was in there.”

  “Can you ask Annie if she’d stop by and take a look at it? Just in case it’s related to this case, I’d like to keep it out of the public eye.”

  “Can do.” Kat looked at the wall clock. “Oh shoot, I’ll stop by her shop, then I’ve got to get to Doc Douglas’ office.”

  “BC sick?”

  “No. BC won’t leave the stray’s side. He’s been there long enough, though.”

  “Shouldn’t take me too long at Mandy’s house. Meet me at your grandmother’s as soon as you can? I’m feeling the need to talk to her and Josiah about the goings-on here.”