by Nan Sampson
“The North pasture. But Ellie, we can’t call Bill yet. We’ve got to make sure there’s… there’s nothing else that might incriminate Josh.”
What on earth had Link been doing in the North pasture? The obvious answer was to meet with Josh. But Ellie just couldn’t imagine Josh killing anyone.
Marg was pushing a cup of hot strong black coffee into Patti’s trembling hands. “Ellie?”
“Call him. I’m sorry, Patti, but we have to do this. Come on. Let’s go meet him out there. Marg, give us about a ten-minute head start. That’ll give us time to get there first.” Ellie steadied Patti as she got to her feet. “Oh, and call Charlie too. Tell him what’s going on.”
Marg nodded. “Will do.”
Ellie took Patti out to Patti’s truck and guided her into the passenger seat. Then she climbed in behind the wheel and drove as fast as she could the ten miles to the Mough’s north pasture, dreading what she was about to see, but knowing she’d do whatever she could to help. As she drove, though, she couldn’t help but think about her visitor of the night before. Had it been Link reaching out in anger one final time?
The snow crunched under foot as Ellie walked through the pasture towards the brown lump that lay like a sack across the old fashioned watering trough, careful not to obliterate the several sets of footprints already present. Instead she walked along a trail made by animals heading for the feed rack. There had been cows here since the snow, and a couple of horses too, judging by the horseshoe shaped prints stamped into the trampled snowpack. Apparently the sight of a dead man in their water trough didn’t seem to faze the placid cows. It made Ellie shudder.
She’d left Patti in the warmth of the truck, not only because there was no need to aggravate her shock, but also to prevent her from doing any more damage to the crime scene.
As Ellie got closer, the brown lump resolved itself into the brown suede coat she’d seen Link wearing the night before. He was slumped over the trough, his head in the basin, where the water would have been, had it been filled. His blue jean clad legs knelt in the snow, and his arms hung straight down at his sides, stiff either from the cold, or from rigor mortis.
But the worst part was the blood. It covered the back of Link’s head, frozen stiff in his chestnut hair, and it had splashed onto the back of his suede jacket, staining it dark. On top of the matted, frozen blood was a lump of what looked like mud, but which she knew was something much more aromatic. It was what the locals called a cow pie, and it had been piled on the top of Link’s head like an obscene hat.
Ellie took a few more steps, not really wanting to see the man’s face, but knowing she needed to, to make sure he really was dead. One look at the open, unseeing eyes was enough.
Feeling sick, she turned and stumbled back across the field and through the gate to where she’d parked the truck and clambered back inside.
Patti had been crying, and hurriedly wiped tears from her face. “Did you see anything else?”
Ellie shook her head, the rested it against the steering wheel, afraid if she said anything, she’d throw up.
“Oh, Ellie, I’m sorry. But I didn’t know what else to do, who else to turn to.”
Ellie took a deep breath through her nose, let it out slowly, then sat up. “It’s okay, Patti. I’m glad you came to me.” She turned the heater up, feeling chilled. “Where’s Josh right now. Is he still at the house?”
Patti bit her lip. “I don’t know. I’d planned to make him a big breakfast this morning, but when I called for him to come down, he didn’t answer.” She glanced at the window, watching as a white pick-up truck headed up the road towards. “He wasn’t in his room, Ellie. His bed hasn’t even been slept in.”
Great, she thought. It just gets better and better.
The white truck crunched to a stop behind them and Ellie watched as Charlie hopped out of the passenger side – and Per jumped down from the driver’s side.
Ellie got out as well, and the cold air hit her like a blow after the blasting heat of the truck. She wavered, and Charlie was there in an instant, arms around her.
“Easy there. You okay?”
She swallowed bile, then nodded. “I’ll live. More than I can say for Link.”
“So he’s really dead?”
She pointed through the gate. “As a doornail. He’s there. At the water trough.”
“Bill’s on his way. Marg said that Patti moved something. Did you…”
“I only got close enough to make sure he was really dead.”
“But you went in to the pasture?”
She nodded.
“Then we’ll have to make sure that the police take a cast of your boots as well as Patti’s.”
“A cast?”
“This pasture isn’t used in winter. The only tracks in this field should be Link’s, Patti’s, yours and the killers.” Hopefully you and Patti haven’t completely obliterated the tracks that count.”
His tone was admonishing, but he kissed her lightly on the top of her head before letting her pull away.
She felt better, just having him here. Good enough now to give him a playful slug. “I thought I said no PDA’s.”
He gave an exaggerated sigh. “You’re such a no fun elf.”
There was no time for a comeback. Bill Gruetzmacher’s four by four barreled up the road a moment later, and the Chief of Police climbed out, along with his Sergeant, Sam Klein, and Seth and Arabella’s nephew Marcus, who was relatively new to the Force, close on his heels.
Gruetzmacher tipped his hat to Ellie, but addressed his remarks to Charlie. “What’s up? Dispatch said something about a body, but—“
Charlie pointed into the field. “I believe it’s Link Fairweather. I haven’t gone in there myself, but both Patti and then Ellie have been at least close enough to verify that that’s who it is.”
He glanced over at Patti, who was out of the truck now, and leaning uncertainly against the door of the vehicle. Per was next to her, a solicitous hand on her arm. “Anybody else been traipsing around in there?” He fixed Ellie with a look.
She shook her head. “Other than whoever killed him, I don’t think so.”
Gruetzmacher’s sun-browned face darkened. “You sure it’s not just an accident? Maybe the fool froze to death. It was cold enough last night, especially if he’d had a bit of liquor in him.”
Ellie felt her stomach clench again as she remembered the blood. “No. It was no accident. Not unless he coshed himself over the head.”
Grueztmacher frowned. “Could have fallen, hit his head.”
“In the middle of a cow pasture, where he fell conveniently over a water trough?” Why were all law enforcement officials blithering idiots? She’d thought Bill had more sense.
“Calm down, Ellie. I haven’t even seen the body yet.” He gestured at Marcus. “Marcus, can you take statements from Mrs. Mough and Ms. Gooden? Sam, follow me, we need to go take a look at what we’ve got here. Oh, and Marcus, call the County, get the coroner over here.” He looked around, glanced up at the sky, which was starting to cloud over. “On second thought, why don’t you all head back to the house. It’s too cold out here to be yakkin’ all day. Marcus can take your statements there.”
Ellie opened her mouth to argue, felt Charlie squeeze her arm. “Mind if I tag along, Bill?”
“Shouldn’t let you, you being an ex-cop, emphasis on the ‘ex’.” He shrugged. “What the hell. You may see things I don’t. Not like we get this kind of stuff up here very often.” He gave Ellie a look tinged with humor. “At least, not until your girlfriend moved in.”
“Great. I’ll be with you in just a sec.” Charlie steered Ellie firmly towards the truck. “Don’t start, Ellie. It’s not the time. Bill is a good cop. Let him do his thing. I’ll be here to keep an eye open. Best thing you can do is to help Patti get through this the best you can.”
He was right, but it galled her to be left in the role of ‘support personnel’. Still, Charlie was right. She had no desire to g
o tramping back through the field only to stare at what was left of Link Fairweather. Besides, she was no sleuth. That was Charlie’s gig.
“Just keep me posted. Oh, there’s one other thing you should know. Josh is missing. Patti says he didn’t sleep in his bed last night – and, um, she found his scarf, one that Patti hand knitted for him, under the body.”
“I wish you hadn’t told me. You know I’m going to have to tell Bill. I can’t withhold evidence.”
Ellie nodded. “I know. But better it come from you than from me.”
“Right.” He gave her another kiss, this time on her icy cold lips, then headed off after Gruetzmacher into the field, while Ellie, with Per’s help, bundled Patti back into the truck to begin the little caravan back to the Mough’s home.
By the time Gruetzmacher and Charlie got to the house, Ellie had put on a pot of coffee, heated the kettle for tea and done what she could to keep Patti from completely breaking down. Josh was still MIA, and his room was vacant, suitcase and all.
Ellie poured cream into a mug she’d warmed with hot water, then filled it to the brim with strong, hot coffee. Mixing in three teaspoons of sugar, she handed it to Charlie as he came to lean against the kitchen counter. His hands were like ice and he took the mug gratefully.
Gruetzmacher placed a hand on Patti’s shoulder. “Why don’t we go into Earl’s study, Patti. We can talk there.”
Patti turned frightened eyes toward Ellie. Ellie could only smile reassuringly, and after a moment, Patti got up and led the way out of the kitchen. Marcus Kemp brought up the rear, hat in hands, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Charlie took a seat at the table and scrubbed at his face. “Man, what a mess.”
“I know. Patti’s frantic about Josh. Even though we all know he didn’t do it, finding his scarf there sure makes it look bad.”
“That’s not exactly what I meant. I was actually talk about poor Link. But yes, Josh has reason to worry. Although, after what you overheard, you couldn’t blame the guy if he got it in his head to whack the bastard.” He sipped at the coffee. “Thanks for this. I’m freezing.”
She sat down next to him at the vintage Formica and stainless steel table. “Did you tell Gruetzmacher about the scarf.”
“I had to, Ellie.”
“I know. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“We managed to isolate what we think are the killer’s footprints. Big boot tracks, much bigger than the ones Patti left. Bill’s going to send Marcus into town to see the local dentist, so we can get some material to make a cast of the best print.”
“Well, that should help, right?”
“Provided we can find the boot that made the prints, yeah.” He drained his mug. “If it were me, those boots would be in another county by now. Maybe in a Goodwill bin.”
“Guess it’s a good thing you’re smarter than the average criminal.”
He gave a weak chuckle, then sobered again. “You know, Ellie, you may have to face the possibility that Josh did this.”
“No.” Her voice was calm, but firm. “He’s not capable of it, no matter how much he hates Link.”
Charlie had the good sense not to argue with her, although she knew he wanted to. Instead he stood up. “I told Bill you’d meet him down at the station and give him your statement there.”
“Why? Someone needs to stay here with Patti.”
“Marcus called Carrie Ann, to come be with her. She needs family right now.”
As far as Ellie was concerned, Patti and Earl were family. But perhaps Charlie was right. “Fine.” She cleaned up the coffee cups and spoons at the sink, then looked around. “Where’s Per?”
“Took off. Back to the Moose Lodge.”
Then there was nothing to keep her here. She let Charlie lead her out, feeling as though she were letting Patti down. But she didn’t know what more she could do.
They were just pulling onto the main road that ran past the dairy when the coroner’s van pulled up behind them. Ellie turned right towards town, the van left towards the county hospital, which served as the local morgue. She gave a shudder, and punched the gas, wanting to put it all as far behind her as she could.
Ellie went back to the shop and relieved Marg of both baking and minding the till. Charlie had wanted her to go home, but she couldn’t just sit around doing nothing. She’d go crazy.
After filling Marg in on the ‘gory’ details, she set about trying to have a normal afternoon, but all any local who came in that day wanted to talk about was the murder. By lunchtime, Ellie was ready to close the shop just to avoid having to continuously dish the same horrific details.
As things slowed down, Bill Gruetzmacher strolled in. It wouldn’t have been that unusual. He came in a couple of times a week during cold weather for coffee. But she knew why he was here today.
He was not Ellie’s idea of a small town Chief of Police. He was a fit man, probably in his early fifties, and wore his sharply pressed uniform well. With his neatly trimmed bristle brush mustache and tanned face he looked a bit like a stockier Sam Elliot, despite the fact that he kept his salt and pepper hair cut regulation short. But there was no country twang to his voice and he’d never be caught dead with chewing tobacco, or any other kind for that matter. He tipped his official police ball cap to both Ellie and Marg as he came in, revealing a fresh haircut.
“Thought I’d save you the trouble of coming by later. Mind if we go back to your office for a private chat?” He gestured towards the hallway that led into the back rooms.
Ellie nodded, knowing that Marg was scowling behind her, not wanting to miss out on anything.
She led Gruetzmacher into the tiny little box that was her office and cleared off a pile of papers and catalogs from the guest chair.
“I’m not sure what I can tell you that you don’t already know.”
“Probably nothing, but I always like to get my facts from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.” He pulled out the ubiquitous cop’s notebook and a ball point, that he clicked into action before smiling up at her. “I’ll jump right in, Ellie, since you and I have been down this road a time or two before. Can you tell me what happened this morning? Starting with when Patti first came here?”
“Sure. We were working here in the shop. I guess it was around eight, maybe eight fifteen, because Mrs. Leighton had just left.”
“Can you be more precise?”
“Well, I didn’t look at the clock if that’s what you mean.”
He nodded. “I see you don’t wear a wrist watch.”
She looked down at her wrist. “No, I don’t.” The observation completely derailed her thoughts. “What’s—“
“Never mind. Just continue with your story. What were you doing when Patti got here?”
Rattled, she thought back for a moment. “I… I think I was wiping down the counter. No, no, I was pouring tea. Pouring hot water into tea mugs for Marg and me. The morning rush was over and we usually have a cup of tea then.”
“Okay. And then?”
“And then Patti came rushing in. She looked terrified. I think I imagined she must be running from something.” In a sense, Ellie thought, she had been. She’d been running from the sight of the dead man in her pasture. Or maybe from the possibility that her eldest child had caused him to be there.
“Running from what?”
She couldn’t meet Gruetzmacher’s eyes, feeling somehow he’d sense the doubt that Charlie had planted and that was growing within her. “I don’t know, but she was scared.”
“Then what?”
“Then I helped her to a chair and she told us that she’d found Link Fairweather, and that he was dead.”
“Can you remember exactly what she said?”
Ellie thought back, but couldn’t. It was a blur. “I’m sorry, no. But it was something like, It’s Link Fairweather, and he’s lying in the middle of my north pasture dead. Something like that.”
“Okay.” His hazel eyes were boring into her
. “What happened next?”
“I got my coat and we both got into Patti’s truck and we drove out there.”
“And that was it?”
“Well, I told Marg to call you, because Patti had been too rattled to think of it.”
“So Charlie and Per just showed up on their own?”
“No, no.” She felt as though she’d been caught out in a lie. “No, I asked Marg to call Charlie too. He used to be a cop,” she stuck in, as though that somehow made it make sense.
“I’m aware. What about Per?”
Ellie shrugged. “I guess Charlie called him… probably to get a ride. He totaled his car the other evening on the way home from The Birches.”
“I see.” Gruetzmacher watched her, waiting.
Ellie stared down at her desk blotter, at the scribbles on the calendar blocks. “I’m not sure what more I can tell you.”
“Tell me about what you did when you got to the pasture.”
She took a breath. She wanted a cup of coffee. Wanted something to do with her hands. She picked up a pen, and started doodling in the calendar margins. “I left Patti in the truck and then went in through the gate, to make sure Patti had actually seen what she thought she’d seen.”
He waited as she paused before continuing.
“It was Link. He was…” She didn’t want to bring that image back. “He was on his knees in front of the old watering trough, sort of bent over into it. His head was looking to the side and I could see his eyes.” She shivered. “There was no doubting that he was dead – the back of his head was caved in and there was blood everywhere.”
“Did you see anything else? Anything around the body?”
She tried to picture the scene, but the only thing that she’d focused on was the body. And the blood.
“No. Nothing.”
“Charlie said that Patti had found and removed a scarf from the body. Do you know anything about that?”
“Patti mentioned it. She thought it might have belonged to…” She couldn’t bring herself to say it.