The Morelville Mysteries Collection

by Anne Hagan

  “Damn, wouldn’t that be nice?”

  “Amen! Anyway, once I’m in position, you can go track down Rojas and bring him in. Use patrol help if you need to. I’m betting he doesn’t know we have Perez. We have to work on our original plan. We don’t know when Perez will be arraigned for what we have on him so far but it will probably be soon and a judge could grant him bail when he is.”

  “Roger that.” He was silent again.

  A couple of minutes later he reported, “Okay, they’re back now and pulling through the lot. I’ve got a partial plate number for you. Sorry; the back is only slightly better than the front.” He gave me what he had and I committed it to memory. I’d call it in from my cell once I was in position.

  “I’m on Market now. Which way did they turn onto California?”

  “They’re headed back toward 7th. I’m a couple of cars behind them.”

  “Roger.” I took my time picking my way over to 7th. If they were coming all the way back to it, California ends. They would have to turn south. A minute later, as I sat in the right turn lane at the corner of Market and 7th, the muddy, camo painted pickup went by me. I pretended to fiddle with the radio to keep my head down in case they looked my way.

  “I’ve got them Shane.” A couple of more cars went by and then he approached the intersection himself. His light was still green but he let me turn out in front of him and fall in behind the cover cars. Once I was in position, he turned off.

  The two men continued past Fountain Square toward Main and then made another stop. I continued past them, did a quick loop and pulled off to the side at the corner of 7th and Fountain to watch for them. It was a good thing I was quick. Only McClarnan had gone in and he was back within a couple of minutes.

  The bed of the truck wasn’t that full. I figured the two men had to be close to being finished and I was right. After two more stops along 7th, the truck was empty.

  After they pulled out of their last stop, they continued down 7th to its junction with State Route 146, turned East on it and followed it out of town. The State Route would take them to Route 196 which ran a few miles short of the northwestern edge of the Blue Rock State Forest, the area that I suspected they were headed toward. The road was a familiar one. I’d driven it thousands of times to get to and from home.

  Traffic was heavy at first affording me some good cover but as we got further out of town it melted away. I hung back as far as I could while trying to keep a visual on the camo painted truck. I didn’t recognize it at all but then lots of guys in the area over-painted older vehicles in flat camo. Most were hunters but some were outlaws and some were just ‘different’.

  The driver who was helping McClarnan with his honey deliveries was quite a bit younger than his passenger, a man in his forties. The twenty something year old looked vaguely familiar but he was a little scruffy and in need of a good haircut and a shave. All of his hairiness detracted from his face. I didn’t recognize him any more than I recognized the old GMC pickup he was driving.

  I went ahead and called in the make, model and the partial license plate number that I had since I couldn’t see the plate any better than Shane had. I’d just have to wait on a response from dispatch who would have to do a little more digging than usual since I couldn’t give them a full plate number.

  After nearly thirty minutes of driving, the truck turned onto 196. The two men would be in wide open farm country for a couple of miles that was mostly Brietland owned on the west side of the road and, as they moved further south, Quinn owned on the eastern side. I slowed. I didn’t want them to notice me turn onto 196 behind them. They’d have a hard time losing me out here. They were in my stomping grounds.

  Near a copse of trees before State Route 196 turns into SR 385, the truck slowed and pulled off the road. I was about a half mile and 40 seconds or so back with nowhere I could legitimately pull off too and not tip them off that I was following them. I was stuck driving by them as McClarnan exited the vehicle and headed into the stand of trees. In case I was recognized, I turned south down Burnt Mill Road and ignored the pickup truck, it’s driver and McClarnan. If they came to realize it was the Sheriff who had been behind them for the last several miles, I wanted them to think that I was just taking a back route to go home.

  The pickup didn’t follow me. He either turned around to go back the way he came or he continued onto SR 385. I thought I glimpsed a quad crossing the road behind me as I watched my rearview mirror. If it was McClarnan on a four wheeler and he was headed into the woods toward the clearing we’d spotted while we were up in the helo this morning, he’d be trespassing on Quinn land.

  I attempted to call Quinn on his business line, the only number I had for him. The voicemail recording came on. I left a brief message that he should get in touch with me as soon as possible and then I hung up. It was nearly 4:00 and I was minutes from home so I decided to keep going. Once I was within the village limits, I pulled over and called Shane.

  “Hey buddy, where are you?”

  “I went back to the restaurant to sit on Rojas again but his car was already gone. I figured he’d go home but, so far, no luck. I’m down the street keeping an eye on his place.”

  “Do you think he might have gone to Perez’s place? After all, we’re assuming he doesn’t know we’ve picked up Perez.”

  “It’s possible but I don’t want to drive in circles. What do you think I should do?”

  “I’d just sit tight there for a little bit. If he did go looking for Perez, he’ll probably head home when he doesn’t find him.”

  “So, how did it go for you?”

  “I tailed them all the way onto 196. The driver of the truck pulled over and let McClarnan out at 196 and 385. I had to keep going but I thought I saw McClarnan on a quad headed toward where I think his hideout is.”

  “So you found something when you went up earlier?”

  “Well, not exactly.” I gave him a brief overview of what we had been able to see. “Since we couldn’t catch him while he was out and about, we’ll probably have to go in after him.”

  “Ouch...”

  “We’ll figure it out.” My phone showed a call coming through from Dispatch. “Hang on Shane. I’m about to get an update on the pickup driver.” I put Shane on hold and answered the second call.

  Chapter 23 – A Brilliant Idea

  Late Tuesday afternoon, June 3rd, 2014

  I sat in the unmarked shaking my head. I almost forgot Shane was waiting for me to get back on the line with him. I opened my conversation with him back up. “Detective, it’s your turn to hear something unbelievable!”

  “What’s that?”

  “The camo pickup truck is registered to Levi Jones, the guy Aiden Quinn fired. He looks quite a bit different now from his last mug shot but I’m pretty sure it was Jones driving.”

  “He has a record?”

  “Oh yes, a lengthy one full of misdemeanors but wait, that’s not the half of it; Ethan Funk, the guy we’re holding, pointed at Jones as being the middleman for McClarnan’s moonshine operation at the least. I suspect that isn’t all.”

  “Harding whistled low.

  “I know, right? We had all three of the men we want in our custody in our reach today and, so far, we’re empty handed.”

  “Agreed boss but, you know what, the threads are starting to come together. We’ll get them!”

  “I certainly hope you’re right. On that note, listen; I’m in Morelville since I was so close to here anyway. I’m going to go home, grab some dinner and work out a plan to grab McClarnan. How about you only sit there until quitting time and if Rojas shows up, you nail him and call me? I’ll come back in. If he doesn’t show up, go on home. We’ll grab him tomorrow.”

  “That sounds like a plan Sheriff. At least we know where this guy’s going to be.”

  I’m not usually home quite so early. I was about to shock the kids who were home from their next to the last day of school and apparently feeling their oats. They had junk
laying everywhere and the television blaring in the living room with nobody watching it.

  I looked out the kitchen window. Beth was in a chair on the deck, feet propped up, surfing on her phone, a smart phone I felt she was a little too young to have in the first place. Meanwhile, Cole was further out in the yard tinkering with God knows what this time.

  I raised the window and called out, “You both have about a minute to get in here!”

  Beth was through the door first but she was still busy with her phone texting or doing some such thing. Cole came in about 10 seconds later. He looked a little nervous. “Aunt Mel! You’re home early!”

  “Yes I am. Surprise!” I smiled my official ‘you’re in trouble now smile’ at them. “So, first of all, what’s with the mess?” I swung my arm to indicate the piles of notebooks, clothing items. And various other school related bric-a-brac strewn across the kitchen table, a countertop and hanging off of chairs.

  Beth rolled her eyes at me, “It was locker clean out day at school. Tomorrow’s the last day.”

  “Drop the attitude and get this stuff put away. You two know better.” They both busied themselves doing what they should have done when they got home.

  Once the table was unburied, I found the days note from Kris to the kids. She always left one listing any chores they needed to accomplish and telling them about whatever she’d put together for their dinner. She wasn’t much of a cook especially when she couldn’t be right there to hover over the cooking process so what she had for them was usually along the lines of sandwich fixings or microwavable stuff. Tonight wasn’t an exception.

  Cole saw me reading their note. “What did mom leave us for dinner?”

  “You hungry buddy?”

  “I’m always hungry!”

  “Why don’t you grab a snack? I’ll call Dana and see when she’ll be home. If she’s close to getting out of there, I’ll make something we can all eat together.”

  He didn’t answer me; he just started to dig in the refrigerator.

  By the time Dana walked through the door just after 5:00 I’d changed out of my uniform and put together a decent meal. It wasn’t Grandma Rossi’s lasagna but it would do. We ate with the kids and then they headed back outside while I cleaned up and Dana sat at the table with her left leg up.

  “Mel, I could get used to this.”

  I laughed. “Baby I enjoy doing it. Unfortunately weeknights when I get home this early are few and far between. For the record, I typically work every other Saturday for at least a few hours too.”

  “You don’t have to tell me. Until I got laid up, I was the queen of long hours. This 8:00 to 4:00 stuff is highly irregular.”

  “Did things go any better for you today?”

  “I think I’m getting a handle on everything but it’s all research and legal argument stuff and in-fighting between agencies, between defendants...That’s not what I signed up for. I wish I could just get back out into the field where I belong.” She paused. “That didn’t come out right. I didn’t mean that I’m anxious to get away from here, I’m not. It’s just, it’s just...Oh, I don’t know how to explain it.”

  “Dana, it’s okay, really. I know where you’re coming from. I’m in the same place. I don’t want to be a desk jockey either.”

  “Speaking of that; what about your campaign?”

  “Oh wow! In all my excitement last night, I totally forgot to tell you about that.” I filled her in on my conversation with Todd Bell and about what Holly had set out to do.”

  “Okay. So that was yesterday; what did Holly come up with?”

  “You know, I don’t even know. I’ve been so busy all day that I haven’t had two seconds to sit down with her. I guess I better make a little time to talk with her about it in the morning but tomorrow looks like it will be a big day for me too.

  “Care to fill me in on what happened today?”

  As I cleaned up the last of the dishes, I spent several minutes giving her the blow by blow.

  We retired to the den where I booted up my computer and shot Holly a quick email with my apologies. She usually made it in before me so she’d see it in the morning unless she was diligent about checking her email from home. I didn’t expect her to be. I certainly wasn’t.

  Dana sat in a chair that I’d had to move into a far corner of the room since the sofa bed was pulled out to make things easier for her.

  “Would you like me to pull that chair over here so you’re not a mile away while we chat?” I grinned at her.

  “No. You really need to figure out how you’re going to get this McClarnan guy. I should just leave you alone and let you work.”

  “I want you here babe. Having you around is much more of a help to me than it is a hindrance, trust me.”

  It was her turn to smile. She tipped her head to the side and leaned back, “Mel, you’ve lived here pretty much all of your life, right?”

  I nodded.

  “Has there always been this much trouble with the bad elements around the county or is this something new?

  “Both, I suppose. The moonshiners, drug dealers and the rabble rousers have always been around but recently they seem to have coalesced together and become much more effective at plying their crimes. I just can’t figure out what’s keeping them all working together.”

  “Probably their association with whatever street gang is supplying what isn’t being cooked locally and also the money. There’s a lot of gang activity everywhere these days, not to mention a ton of cash in running moonshine and in the drug trade.”

  “True. But if it’s money we’re talking about, what are they doing with all the cash they’re bringing in? I mean, most of these guys we’re after around here are living much as they always have. No one seems to be going crazy buying up property, or ‘stuff’ or flashing wads of cash. Where’s it going? I don’t think money is the motive here for most of these guys. I just don’t know what else it could be.”

  “I don’t know either babe. I guess that’s what you have to figure out.”

  “What I need to figure out first is how to get to McClarnan.”

  “Mel, obviously this Levi Jones...er ‘Sticks’ character is his chauffer since he doesn’t drive. Maybe if you get Jones, you can get to him?” She shrugged.

  “Tail Jones around?”

  “Why not?”

  “He hasn’t technically done anything wrong other than via hearsay evidence given to us by a moonshine runner in custody. We do, however, know where his residence is. It’s out in the middle of nowhere and not even close to where we believe McClarnan’s to be. We might be a while running around behind him hoping for a break. I don’t even know that we have the manpower to pull it off without calling in reinforcements.” I wrinkled my nose up at the thought of doing that.

  “Hmmm. I don’t know what else to tell you... Oh, wait a minute!” Dana started to jump up before remembering she had a bum leg and grabbed the chair arms quickly.

  “Dana be careful!” Once I was sure she was settled firmly into the chair again, I asked, “What? What did you just think of?”

  “Mel your mom told us on Sunday that Billy Bob is still alive in prison as far as anyone around here knows, correct?”

  “Yeah, so?”

  “Maybe you should pay him a visit and see if he’ll tell you anything about that cabin.”

  “You’re suggesting that I go into a penitentiary and speak with a man convicted of killing a federal agent about where a cabin he last saw about 40 years ago is, if it’s still even there, and you’re assuming he’ll tell me?”

  “It’s worth a shot. I mean, what else ‘ya got?”

  “As far as Aiden Quinn Sr. knows, Papa Brietland had the original cabin demolished. When Callie Brietland took Ryan back to live with her folks, he was still an infant. Shortly after that he was placed with relatives and he lived with them for a long time. He wouldn’t remember that cabin and it’s not likely he had any contact with his father while he was growing up. Papa Brietland w
ould never have allowed that. I bet he’s got some sort of cabin or shed or something that he built on the land that he’s squatting on that doesn’t have anything to do with the original cabin or its location.”

  “And you know this for sure?”

  “Well, no. Aiden Senior’s memory isn’t the best but Dana, it’s been over 40 years. What are the odds?”

  “Okay, well then what about this Papa Brietland? Can you ask him if he knows where it is or if he had it leveled?”

  “No, unfortunately. He died a few years ago.”

  “If you’re not so sure tailing Jones is a good option then maybe going into whatever prison this guy is being held in is your next best bet.” She stared at me hard.

  “What would you do if you were in my shoes?”

  “You’re joking, right?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Mel, might I remind you that I went into Stateville to interview a gangbanger on my last case who, in reality, had just as much to do with your counterfeiting case as my smuggling case. In fact, that Secret Service Agent Webb that was investigating the counterfeit money was the one who requested that I interview the guy so you know I’d go in! There’s no question.”

  Chapter 24 – Swirling Vortex

  Wednesday, June 4th, 2014

  My brain was already in overdrive when I walked into the office on Wednesday morning. I knew I had to get a handle on everything that was going on and I had to do it soon. I didn’t expect to be hit immediately by an exuberant Holly bent on setting up an election campaign for me to run for Sheriff as soon as my shadow darkened the door.

  I checked my watch. It was all of 7:30 AM. I’d tried to get an early start so I could get my bearings first and then spend a few minutes with her when she came in before I went on about the business of rounding up a couple of suspected murderers but, no such luck.

  Not only was Holly already at her desk when I got to the station, a slim, dark haired gentleman of about 40 or 45 in a good suit was seated in front of it chatting with her. Spread out all over the desk where forms and campaign sign samplers and heaven knows what all else. The guy had parked a wheeled tote that must have spewed forth the volume of stuff I was seeing.