Death Opens a Window

by Mikel J. Wilson

  “What’s her name again, and what’s the name and number of the recovery service?”

  Emory gave him the information. “So you’ll call me back once you have the location.”

  “Yeah. Just wait for my call.”

  As soon as the line disconnected, Jeff made a prediction. “He’s not going to call you back.”

  “I know that.” Emory parked his car across the street from the Knoxville Consolidated Facility of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “That’s why we’re here.”

  A few minutes later, they saw Wayne exit the building and get into his car. As he pulled out of the parking lot, Emory waited until he had driven far enough ahead before following him.

  Chapter 33

  “You’re getting too close.”

  Emory shook his head at Jeff’s comment. “Wayne never notices his surroundings. During one drug bust he walked into a dealer’s home and called, ‘Clear.’ I came in after him and noticed someone hiding behind the curtains.”

  “Oh my god! I thought that only happened in Shakespeare. That actually worked?”

  “It did on Wayne. And the guy was armed. After that, I always insisted on being the first in. I think he used to be a good agent. He just grew lazy.”

  When Wayne turned onto another road, Emory spotted a barn he had seen before. “Do you realize where he’s going?”

  Jeff looked ahead but didn’t recognize anything. “No. Where?”

  “Brume Wood. The windfarm tract, the original one, is about ten miles ahead.”

  “Well what are you waiting for? Gun it.”

  “I can’t pass him now. He’ll see me.”

  “I don’t care! We need to find Virginia!” Jeff stomped onto Emory’s right foot, accelerating them toward Wayne’s car.

  “What are you doing? Get off me!”

  Keeping his foot planted on Emory’s, Jeff pointed at Wayne’s car. “Pass, or you’re going to hit him!”

  Emory swerved, causing his car to fishtail and straddle the line between the pavement and the shoulder. The rear passenger-side corner snapped one of the wooden legs of a sign welcoming people to Brume Wood. Emory regained control and held a hand to the side of his face as he passed Wayne and zoomed ahead. “Now get off me!” Jeff relented, and Emory tried to get his breathing back under control. “Damn it, you could’ve killed us!”

  “Do you need a pill?”

  Emory hated to admit it, but he did. “I’m out, and I haven’t had a chance to get a refill.”

  “Oh.” Jeff pursed his lips and looked at the windshield. “Hey, keep up the pace. The more of a head start we have, the better.”

  Emory did, slowing down only once they had reached the original windfarm tract. “We should’ve stayed behind Wayne. There are thirteen different properties within the tract. We have no idea which one it is.”

  “Just keep driving around until we spot her car. It’s not a four-wheeler. It has to be on the road or in a driveway.”

  They passed property after property, each of varying size and each with a posted auction sign. “There!” Jeff yelled at last.

  Emory’s eyes followed his pointing finger. “I don’t see it.”

  “It’s behind that house.”

  Emory backed up and pulled onto the dirt driveway of the dilapidated white house. The driveway continued to the back of the house, where two vehicles were parked – Virginia’s black hybrid and a brown truck with more dents and scratches than square inches of untouched paint.

  Jeff bolted from the passenger seat to inspect Virginia’s car. Once Emory joined him, he concluded, “Nothing’s amiss here.” Turning his attention to the truck, he saw the last hints of sunlight glinting from the silver frame around the Idaho license plate. “Damn Idahoans!”

  Emory was a bit taken aback by the out-of-nowhere statement but not enough to ask about it at the moment. “This must be the surveyor’s. Clayton.” He opened the truck door. “There’s nothing in here. No papers, no devices.”

  Jeff headed for the house and tried the back door. “Locked. Do you have a crowbar?”

  “Hang on a second before you go breaking in.”

  “Don’t start on the breaking and entering.”

  “I wasn’t going to, but look at the dirt on the step. Yours are the only footprints.”

  “Maybe they went in the front door.”

  “Or maybe they didn’t go into the house at all.” Emory pointed to the trees at the other end of the property. “I think Mary Belle Hinter’s old property is on the other side of those woods.” He retrieved two flashlights from the trunk of his car, and the two searched the property in the dimming light.

  “I wish there was fresh snowfall. I can’t see any tracks.” Jeff’s shoe kicked a metal box.

  “What was that?”

  “It looks kind of like a battery.”

  Emory inspected the dashboard on top of the device. “I think this is an underground metal detector.”

  “I guess we’re on the right track then.” They both aimed their beams down and crisscrossed the ground before them.

  “Is that a sinkhole?” Emory fixed his light on a hole about six feet in diameter a few yards ahead of them.

  “Look!” Jeff aimed his light at a rope tied around the base of the nearest tree, and he swept the beam along the length to the other end. “It stops at the hole.” The light continued to a fallen tripod next to the hole. “There’s some more equipment.” He started toward the hole.

  “Be careful! There’s no telling how stable the surrounding ground is.”

  Jeff stopped for a second before cat-stepping forward. “It’s got to be the surveyor’s rope. A couple of months ago, we were working on a lost dog case.”

  “You look for lost dogs?”

  “When the client pays me $5,000 to find her beloved Australian shepherd, I do. Anyway, we found him stuck on the side of a ravine at the foothills. Virginia wanted to rappel down to get him, but she didn’t have a rope in her car. We ended up calling the fire department.” Jeff reached where the rope touched the rim of the hole and pulled up its sliced end. He turned a worried face toward Emory. “It’s cut.”

  “Crap. How deep does it look?”

  “Virginia!” Jeff yelled into the black opening. He lowered himself onto his stomach, held the rocky rim and poked his head over the hole. “What’s the surveyor’s name?”

  “Clayton.”

  “Clayton!” Jeff waited for an answer before scooting away. “If someone’s down there…” He turned his ear back to the hole.

  “Do you hear something?”

  Jeff motioned him to be quiet, but there was no need. They both heard it this time – Virginia’s voice. “Down here!”

  “Virginia! Are you hurt?!”

  “Sore and weak, but okay! There’s someone else here! He’s not good!”

  “It must be Clayton. I’ll call for help.” Emory walked a few feet away to make the call.

  “Virginia, how far down are you?!”

  “I can’t tell for sure! Fifty feet maybe!”

  “Okay, just hang on! We’re going to get you out!”

  Emory tried to call 911 but to no avail. “I’m not getting a signal. Can you try?”

  Jeff looked at his phone. “Nothing.”

  “What the hell is going on here?!”

  Emory and Jeff jerked around to see who asked the question, and they saw a man with a flashlight approaching. Emory raised his flashlight to Wayne’s angry face, and the TBI agent shielded his eyes. “Get that damn light out of my face!”

  Emory lowered the beam. “Wayne. Thank you for calling me back.”

  “I don’t owe you a phone call. What are you doing here, interfering with my investigation? I thought you didn’t know where her car was.”

  Jeff answered for Emory. “I had a hunch, and it led me here.”

  “Stop with the damn lies, and tell me what’s going on!”

  Chapter 34

  “Jeff, hurry! It’s freezing
down here!”

  Wayne cursed under his breath. “Who the hell is down there?”

  Emory responded with a question of his own. “Do you have rope?”

  A few minutes later, Wayne tied his rope around the same tree as the previous rope, while Jeff placed a tarp over the edge of the hole to keep the rocks from cutting this one.

  Emory shined a light into the hole again. “Jeff, are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Would you rather do it?”

  “God no. I was horrible at climbing the rope in gym. What I meant was Wayne called for help on his satellite phone, so they should be here soon.”

  Jeff turned on the flashlight he had clipped to his belt. “I’m not going to make Virginia wait one minute longer than she has to.” He looped the rope around one leg and backed himself up to the rim of the hole. He nodded toward Wayne while asking Emory, “Can you make sure that knot doesn’t come undone? I don’t trust him.”

  Emory cracked a grin. “I’ll hold it myself.” When Jeff took another step back, Emory told him, “Wait!” and kissed him.

  Emory could hear Wayne behind him groan, “Good god.”

  “Be careful.”

  Jeff nodded, took a deep breath and stepped onto the edge. Before he lowered himself into darkness, he saw Emory plop onto the ground and dig his heels in as he gripped the rope.

  Jeff began his descent. “Virginia! I’m coming.”

  “I see your light!”

  With his powerful forearms, Jeff had no problem supporting his own weight, and his feet touched the ground thirty seconds after entering the hole.

  Virginia threw her arms around him. “What the hell took you so long?”

  “I’m sorry.” Jeff released the rope and hugged her back. “You’re freezing.” He removed his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. “How long have you been down here?”

  “Since about six last night. I was hoping it would get warmer when the sun came up this morning, but the light never made it down here.”

  “That explains the unmelted snow.” Jeff placed his flashlight on the snow-covered ground, casting light on the broken skeleton. The PI jumped back and fell on his butt. “Whoa! What the hell is that?”

  “Someone must’ve fallen down here long ago and was never found.” Her eyes began to well. “I thought that would be us.”

  Jeff focused on the man lying on the ground with Virginia’s coat covering most of his torso. “Is he—”

  “He’s still breathing, but he stopped talking a few hours ago.”

  “There’s a bottle of water in my coat pocket, if you’re thirsty.” Jeff stooped to check his condition. “Clayton.” He slapped the man’s face a few times. “Clayton!” The man didn’t stir, but Jeff could hear him breathing. “We’ll have to leave him for the professionals. He could have a broken back.”

  After a glance at his shivering friend, he stood and grabbed the rope. “Let’s get you out of here.” He tied it around her legs and waist and yelled for Emory to pull her up.

  Seconds after Virginia climbed over the rim, the rope was thrown back down the hole, and he heard Emory ask, “Jeff, do you want me to pull you up?”

  “I’ll manage!” Jeff took a breath and began his journey up, which took about twice as long as his descent. As soon as he touched the rim, he could feel Emory’s hands clasp around his wrists, and his partner helped him crawl to the ground.

  “Are you okay?”

  Jeff nodded. “Where’s Virginia?” He plopped his butt on the ground and gave the front of his green pullover a few tugs to peel the sweaty cotton from his torso.

  Staring at his partner’s torso, Emory answered, “She went to her car to warm up. You know, I could’ve pulled you up.”

  “Nah, I like climbing rope.” Jeff pushed the sleeves up to show off the blood-filled veins in his forearms. “It’s a great workout.” He glanced at Wayne, who had dropped the end of the rope and was now making a beeline for Virginia. “We need to stop him.”

  By the time Jeff and Emory caught up to Wayne, he was already questioning Virginia through the open car window. “What’s his name?”

  From behind the steering wheel of her car, Virginia answered, “He said his name was Clayton.”

  “Is he the killer?”

  “What? I don’t think so.”

  Jeff sidled up to Wayne and cracked open the door between the inquisitor and his presumed informant. “Virginia, scoot over. I’m driving you to the hospital to be checked out.”

  Wayne pushed the door shut. “An ambulance is on the way, and she’s not going anywhere until she answers my questions.” He pointed an angry finger at Virginia. “If I arrested the wrong man, you need to tell me right now!”

  Virginia shrugged. “Why are you asking me?”

  Jeff and Emory turned toward the shrill of a siren, and lights from the approaching fire engine strobed their faces. Emory slapped the roof of the car and nodded toward the road. “Wayne, the rescue team is here. You should greet them.”

  “She doesn’t know anything, does she?” Wayne sneered at his former partner. “You lied to me.”

  “Yes, and I’m still waiting for you to call me back.”

  Wayne growled, “Asshole,” as he walked away.

  Virginia stepped out of the car. “Guys, what was that all about?”

  Emory shook his head. “Nothing important.” He pointed to the ambulance pulling into the driveway behind the fire engine. “We should get you checked out.”

  A few moments later, while Wayne and the firemen worked on bringing Clayton safely to the surface, Virginia sat at the back of the ambulance for an assessment from the EMT.

  As the clean-cut, silver-haired EMT took her pulse and blood pressure, Jeff questioned her. “We know you went looking for the survey report, and the man at that office gave you the name of the surveyor. What happened after that?”

  “I thought he might still be at one of the properties for the windfarm tract since he hadn’t filed a report yet, so I drove out here and spotted what I figured was his truck. I walked around looking for him, and I heard moaning.”

  Jeff noticed Emory turn to look at the edge of the woods, just beyond the hole. “What is it?”

  “Oh my god. The moaning I heard in the woods yesterday, that was him!”

  “You heard moaning and didn’t investigate?”

  Emory cupped his cheek in his palm. “I didn’t know it was a person.”

  “What did you think it was?” When Emory didn’t answer, Jeff rephrased his question. “Did you think it was a ghost?”

  “No. Of course not.”

  “Oh my god, you did!” Jeff laughed. “For such a devout follower of reason, you sure get led astray by the oddest superstitions.”

  Ignoring Jeff, Emory crossed his arms and focused on Virginia, who said, “Jeff, don’t laugh. I think I saw a UFO.”

  The male PIs asked in unison, “What?”

  The EMT removed the blood pressure cuff as Virginia explained. “Let me back up a minute to where I left off. When I saw the hole, I called down, and I heard a faint voice. I tried calling 911, but I couldn’t get a signal.”

  Jeff sat next to her. “Okay, but how did you end up in the hole with him?”

  “I got the rope from my car and rap—”

  “You had rope?”

  The EMT held a pin light to Virginia’s eyes to check her pupils just as she nodded to Emory. “I need you to keep your head still, ma’am.”

  “Sorry. Yes. We could’ve really used a rope for a situation a couple of months ago, but we didn’t have it readily available. I bought it to have on hand.”

  “I heard the story.”

  Jeff elbowed her. “You rappelled?”

  With the light removed from eyes, Virginia blinked several times. “What? I did it when I was in the Marines. Anyway, that’s when I saw it.”

  “The UFO?” asked Emory.

  Virginia nodded. “It was getting dark. I was holding the rope, and I was try
ing to pep myself up to go down the hole. Then I heard something. I looked up, and there it was. This red light floating in the sky. I couldn’t make out the shape of the craft. All I could see was the light – like that little red one in Close Encounters.”

  The EMT chuckled as he handed her a cup with two pills and a tiny bottle of water. “Take this.”

  Virginia frowned at the handsome man and insisted, “I’m telling the truth.”

  The EMT responded, “You’re very lucky. No broken bones or apparent internal injuries, but you might have a slight concussion. That could explain why you were seeing things.”

  “It was before I fell.”

  “Regardless, I recommend we take you to the hospital for a thorough examination.”

  Virginia downed the pills. “I’m fine.”

  “It’s your call, but if you start feeling dizzy or have a persistent headache, you need to get the emergency room. Understood?”

  “Understood.”

  One of the firemen yelled from the hole, “We got him!”

  As the investigators turned to see Clayton being lifted from the hole, the EMT grabbed his case and hurried to tend to him.

  A light went off in Jeff’s head. “Wait a second. A red light. Virginia, could it have been a drone?”

  “A drone? You mean like a military drone? No way—”

  “No, like a commercial one.”

  “I hadn’t thought about that, but I guess so.”

  Emory pointed to Jeff. “You think it’s the same one you saw on the Belchers’ balcony?”

  “And maybe the same one Corey saw.”

  “Our killer’s been keeping tabs.” Emory shook his head. “Crap, why didn’t I think of that before?!”

  “What?” asked Jeff.

  “When we went to see Randy Graham that first time, remember I heard something after we got out of the car and I saw something just before it flew over the trees. It had to have been a drone. That’s how the killer knew where we were, and then he tampered with your tire while we were inside.”

  Virginia threw up her hands. “Well great. Thanks for ruining that for me. I really wanted it to be a UFO. I spent god knows how many hours in a damn hole in a ground, and you couldn’t give me that?”