The Morelville Mysteries Collection

by Anne Hagan

  “You know what? Now that, that’s all settled, I’m famished. I wonder if they have room service?” She leafed through the pages.

  “Doubtful. There’s no restaurant on site. You ‘wanna order a pizza?”

  “I could do pizza.”

  “There’s a pizza thingy on the TV. Order whatever you want. My treat for putting you out.”

  “You’re not putting me out, but I will take you up on the offer.”

  “You order. I’ll run down the hall and grab ice and sodas.”

  “Diet Pepsi please.”

  “Pizza and diet pop. A woman after my own heart!” I grinned and shook my head then I went on about my mission.

  I watched in amazement as Dana polished off her fourth slice of pizza. She’d already eaten a side salad and a couple of cheese sticks. She could really put it away.

  “Eat up. There’s brownies when you’re done.”

  I choked on my Pepsi. “You’re joking right?”

  “Where I grew up, clean plates always meant dessert.”

  “If I keep hanging out with you I’m going to be as big as a house! Where do you put it all? Why aren’t you huge?”

  “I’ve eaten this way since my Army days and I work it all off. I’m always on the run.”

  “Army?” I was surprised. “What else don’t I know about you?”

  “I only served one tour to get money for college. Mom and dad couldn’t afford to send me to school and I was only making $35 bucks a week washing dishes in a restaurant part time during high school. Everything I’ve done since then built on what I did in the service.”

  “And what was that?”

  “CID.”

  “I see. Wow! Alrighty then.” I shook my head in wonder.

  “I do know what I’m doing out there.”

  “Dana, I never said you didn’t.”

  “You didn’t have to. It’s been written all over your face.”

  “Touché. I’m not exactly the hick town Sheriff you think I am either. I’ve been around the block a few times.”

  “I never...”

  “Stick to catching runaway livestock.” I mimicked her original tone. “Remember saying that?”

  She had the decency to look sheepish. “Yes. I shouldn’t have said it. I’m sorry.” She started cleaning up the food wrappings covering our desk turned dinner table.

  “Dana, sit back down for a minute. We need to talk about this investigation.”

  She leaned against the side of the bed, legs splayed out in front of her, hands folded in her lap and studied me. “I’m just worried about your safety Mel. Muskingum County has already lost one Sheriff at the hands of this gang.”

  “He was playing for their team and he either got greedy or he did something stupid. They don’t know that I know what really went down, that I know anything about their smuggling ring or certainly that they’re being investigated. They think I’m only on to distribution of counterfeit money in the county. Now, with three of their guys in custody, if they’re smart about keeping a low profile, and I think they are, they’re not going to be saying or doing squat on that front. It’s no longer a viable business for them in East Central Ohio.”

  “I’m thinking the three guys the Secret Service has a hold of will take their lumps and go down without giving anything away or face worse wrath from the gang than they’ll get in any prison. My point is, the whole syndicate will stay far away from me.”

  “You may be right about all of that but I’m not sure how we use you to our advantage without giving anything away.” Now, she stared right through me, wheels turning in her head.

  “Why don’t you just let me be me? I go on about my life. I go into town, I fill my truck up at the gas station, I pick up my mail at the post office, I buy milk at the store, get a sub at the pizza shop, I check on my sister at the farm and all along the way I talk to people, poke around and observe. Also, I know Delores’ habits. I show up at the post office when she does and I strike up a conversation with her. Simple.”

  “Simple?”

  “Absolutely! It’s the sort of thing I do every day. Nothing will look any different than any other time. Right now I’m conspicuous by my absence. We want them to think that I think everything is all tied up with a neat little bow.”

  Dana was quiet for a minute. Finally she spoke, “I think it could work. Will you stay in your house though?”

  “I’ll play that by ear but that’s probably the best course of action.”

  Dana blew out a heavy breath. “While I don’t disagree with that, I’m worried sick what might happen.” She caught my gaze but then dropped her chin to her chest.

  “We just talked about this. It’ll be okay.”

  She looked up at me. Her eyes were moist with tears but they hadn’t fallen. I’m not good with adult tears. She looked away. I didn’t know what to do.

  “I’m being silly again.” She sniffled, “I’m not thinking like a federal agent. I’m thinking like a lovesick puppy...”

  Lovesick? Whoa! I stood up and covered the two steps to her then I gently pulled her up from the bed and into my arms. She laid her head against my chest and closed her beautiful brown eyes still shimmering with the wetness of her fear. I felt so protective of her that I never wanted to let her go.

  “I’m so sorry Mel.”

  “You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”

  “I’m being a big baby.”

  “Dana, you care. It’s nice that someone does. It’s been a while.”

  She looked up at me and stared into my eyes. I felt like she could see into my soul. She reached a hand up to my neck and pulled my head down toward hers. Our lips met in another electric kiss, just like that day in my garage. I tried hard to restrain myself but my body was on fire.

  I finally pulled back, my breathing already ragged. “Dana, we need to stop.”

  “Why?” She tried to focus on my eyes.

  “Because you said you don’t want a relationship right now and neither of us wants a one-night-stand.”

  She stepped back. I was disappointed but glad I hadn’t pushed her. Her words though took me by surprise.

  “Sure, now you start listening to me...!” She moved back up against me again. “Mel, my brain is telling me to avoid this and focus on the job but my heart is telling me something totally different.” She took a deep breath then pulled my head toward her again as she said, “For once, I’m going to listen to my heart.”

  ###

  Dana

  Mel reached out for me and splayed one hand between my shoulder blades while the other found the curve of my waist. She slid her hand further and cupped my ass firmly, pulling me into her. I moaned at the sensation and Mel devoured my lips to silence me.

  Warm hands slid up and down my sides and found purchase on my skin as Mel buried her mouth in the curve of my neck. It was too tempting not to run my hands through that magnificent hair and nibble the perfect earlobe I was presented with, when she did that. My actions caused quite the frenzy as I found myself scooped up and deposited on the massive bed, only to feel unimaginable bliss as her body covered mine.

  A hand stripped open the buttons of my shirt. I don’t remember now if it was my own or if it was Mel’s... I do remember the intense heat and moisture of her mouth as it closed around first one nipple and then the other forcing me to explode in need for so much more.

  We made love most of the night.

  Chapter 25 – Down to Business

  Dana

  A phone was ringing. I tried to shake off the stupor of sleep as strong arms encircled me and pulled me tight into a warm chest. I reluctantly extracted an arm from the embrace and reached for my cell on the stand beside the bed.

  “’Lo?”

  “Rossi? ‘That you?”

  I sat bolt upright. Mel looked up at me. “Of course Tim.”

  “Hey, it’s after 8:00. Phil and Ron are already in the air and due back any time. Will you be joining us?”

  “Ye
s, of course. I got tied up. I’ll be there shortly.” I watched as Mel scrambled up, nude, and began digging through her bag of clothes. She was quite the specimen. My heart thudded in my chest.

  “Yeah, okay. Anyway, bring coffee. The swill they serve here sucks.”

  “Roger! Anything else?”

  “Nope. Later boss!” He hung up.

  “Mel pointed toward me and then the bathroom. I nodded and bolted in there.

  Through the door I heard, “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have... I didn’t mean to...”

  “Mel, don’t you ever be sorry. It takes two. As far as the guys are concerned, I was checking up on my informant or something.”

  She laughed. I probably didn’t want to know what was going through her mind, but it really was such a nice sound to hear.

  By 9:30, we were all gathered around the conference table again, except for Holly who was stuck manning the phones. Coffee and doughnuts had placated Tim. He was munching quietly.

  “Ron, Phil; what’s the story?” I asked the pilot and my scout.

  Phil took the floor. “We got a good look at the layout of the dairy farm. I think the big barn with the loading bay is where we need to focus. It seemed like typical farm operations going on elsewhere but that building is off a little by itself. Everything else has big bay doors that are wide open but the couple of people we were able to observe going in and out of that one use a man door and the only bay door is the delivery dock overhead. That seems out of place on a farm.”

  Mel spoke up. “You’re right about that. On most farms, even a dairy farm, you have to move either animals or heavy equipment in and out of the barns. There’d be a single big door or double doors at one or both ends and sometimes, especially during the work day, they’d be open all the time.”

  “But, if it’s something that can be off loaded from or onto a truck with a fork lift that could easily have come off a truck itself,” Phil continued, “and you were trying to keep prying eyes out...” There were nods all around.

  “We need to get a surveillance schedule set up and get out there. Is there any place that would be a good observation point?”

  Ron spoke. “Yes, but given the location of that particular building, if you want to watch all the comings and goings directly to it, you’re going to need to be on Chappell land.”

  “Well, we don’t want to do that just yet. What I want to do first is watch the freight traffic in and out of there. Any thoughts on that?” I looked at both Ron and Phil.

  Phil spoke again. “Yes, actually. From what we could see, all traffic to and from the farm is via State Route 44 into two entrances.” He got up and pointed along the wall map. “This one services the home, primarily, and this one appears to get most of the dairy operations traffic. Out across from the main operations entrance is a heavily wooded area that, according to this map, is not Chappell owned.” He looked at Mel.

  “That’s right. On the other hand, I do believe that it’s Amish owned and that might be a problem. They’re peace loving people who pay their taxes but otherwise stay out of Government affairs.”

  “Ouch!” How do we work around that?” Great, a roadblock before we’re even out the door!

  “Let me look into it. It’s not hunting season – yes, they do hunt, for food, not sport - so we’re not running any risks to send agents in, in that regard. If we agree to send them in, unarmed, for observation only, I can probably talk the property owner into agreeing. If it’s who I believe it is, he’s a reasonable man.”

  “I’m not sure I want any of my agents or any of your deputies in there, unarmed.”

  “Just to observe, for now?” Mel looked at me intently.

  I shrugged and looked back at Phil. How would we get them into position if we do get permission? We need to start watching ASAP. Any sort of motorized vehicles are going to look mighty out of place on Amish property.”

  “We could move surveillance in there from the northwest by going overland, on foot. You’re working right off the road with family owned property all around you to get in there any other way, anyway.”

  I turned back to Mel. “Well, here’s your shot. You wanted to get out and do what you do.” I smiled outwardly but my heart was quickly tying itself in a knot.

  “Roger Chief!” Mel shot back. Everyone laughed.

  Holly poked her head through the door. “Dana, Gene Corelli is on line two. He said it’s about the extradition and, since you’re all meeting, to put him on speaker.”

  “Great, thanks.”

  Mel picked up a phone from a side table, placed it down in front of me and pushed a few buttons then nodded to me. “Gene, what’s the word?”

  “The word is “extradition!” Jonathan Joseph has been transported to Chicago. He’s being held at MCC. I’m waiting to board a flight to Midway now. I’ll be on the ground by 11:30 local time and, as soon as I reach the MCC facility, they’ll transfer him to interrogation.”

  “Awesome!” Phil and Jason high fived.

  “Let’s hope he has something to give us to save his own ass. That said, anything from what you’ve learned there in the last 24 hours that you want me to hit him with?”

  “Oh yeah! Besides what you and I have already discussed, we need to know if he knows who “Relic” actually is and if it’s Delores Chappell. We have to establish that with a credible witness to have any hope of getting the warrants we need, even under RICO. We’re going to try to work some other angles but we really have no probable cause for a warrant yet that doesn’t smack of sheer speculation on our part. If Relic really is Delores, we need to figure out what her tie to this gang is.”

  “Right. Anything else?”

  “Gene, it’s Sheriff Crane. See how much he knows about overall ops in this area, if anything. I’ve got what I think is a clean department here but I need to know if there are other bad apples on the force. Carter may have been it or he may have had help.”

  “Gotcha Sheriff. They’re calling for boarding everyone. I’ll be back in touch once I can break this guy.”

  “Go get ‘em Gene!” Tim spoke for the first time since the meeting started.

  “I got this. You all get that!” and, with that, he was gone.

  “Okay everyone. While Gene is working on Joseph, we need to get cracking here. Mel, if you’ll talk to the Amish farmer, that will be a huge help. In the meantime, Jason and Holly can work to put together a surveillance schedule. Ron, we’ll need you on standby to do flyover looks since we’re not going to be on the property. Phil, you work on placement and surveillance equipment. Tim, check on access to those shooters and get those warrant requests finished up. If Gene gets anything out of Joseph, we’re going to be moving on those quickly. Anybody have anything else?”

  Heads shook all the way around. “Let’s go then.”

  “Mel, you’re amazing! The first shift is headed out now. I don’t know how you did it.”

  “I told you; I know the man and he’s reasonable. I just talked to him friend to friend.”

  “Where are you headed now?”

  “To Morelville to do the things we talked about.”

  “Please be careful... I...I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Always Dana. I’ll report back on anything I find.”

  “Thank you.”

  ###

  Mel

  I put on a brave face for Dana but I was well aware of the dangers ahead of me. I knew though that I couldn’t let my fear get the best of me and get in the way of me doing my job. I refused to hide anymore.

  I rounded the bend around a property line and slowed as I came upon the gas station at the edge of town. I pulled up to a pump and hopped out to top off my official county vehicle. It didn’t really need much fuel but my plan was to both be highly visible and to amble around town and just see what I could stir up.

  I nodded at and greeted the folks that were pulling in and out around me. Our little town had always been a friendly one. I desperately wanted to keep it that wa
y.

  “Hey Sue, how are you?” I greeted the day manager that was filling in for my sister while she recovered and rehabbed from her wound.

  “I’m doin’ just fine. The question is, how’s your sister?”

  “She’s getting along great. You won’t be doubling up shifts much longer!” I grinned.

  Sue smiled back at me. “Good to hear! We’ve all been worried about you all, you know? You’ve had all kinds of people taking shots at you folks.”

  I raised my eyebrows at her. “Not all kinds. Probably, the same couple of losers.” Just a little white lie, there. “They’re in custody now and everyone’s okay. I do though certainly appreciate the concern.”

  “We wouldn’t want to be losing another Sheriff ‘round here, now Sheriff!” She patted my arm in a kindly gesture.

  I stepped aside as another customer came in to pay for his gas. “You won’t be losing me anytime soon. That’s a promise!” I nodded to her and headed back out to my truck. Sue lived a few miles out of town. She was certainly nice enough and she’d chat all day but what I really needed to do was run down some of the folks that lived right in town that always knew everything that was going on. Some called them nosy. I called them informed and on the lookout for the best interests of the town. I decided to make my next stop the store and I headed down there.

  Stepping into the Morelville General Store was like stepping back in time. It was laid out shotgun style with a main aisle and a half back aisle that stopped where the more modern conveniences of refrigerated and freezer units took over. Everything else was a throwback to the late 1800’s; high ceilings, creaky wood floors, and an old fashioned low wood counter with high shelves behind it, running the length of one side of the store, save the deli case in the middle. It had been running continuously selling food, animal feed, hardware, plumbing supplies and more for generations.

  The store’s current owners, Terry Ford and his wife Sheila, are typically always on site during open hours. Though they aren’t ones to gossip, they stay on top of things. They both seem to have their fingers on the pulse of the community. Most people happened through the store for one thing or another, at least once a week. Some people were daily regulars. Terry and Sheila know them all and they know a lot about them.