"That's Archer Vaughn. He is one of the organizers for this event. He’s also a Virginia State Policeman and probably knows those guys. Next to him is William Allen, the property owner." came Tom's reply.
In a close huddle, Archer could be seen gesturing as he spoke and pointed behind him as he explained to the policemen. William Allen stood with his arms crossed, listening intently to each person as they spoke. The knot of people suddenly broke up. While one of the officers remained at the entry gate, the other two turned and walked toward the field with Archer and William. The growing crowd closed in behind them and waited at the edge of the field as they watched the four men cross the trampled grass.
More lights appeared behind the police cars. Over the next thirty minutes, streaming through the gate came more uniformed policemen, a police photographer with his equipment, and a man in a suit carrying a bag who was talking rapidly on his cell phone as he briskly wound his way through the onlookers. An ambulance had also arrived, the two paramedics bringing their gear in with them. The new arrivals trekked across the field to the body site.
Perri turned around on the bench and said to Tom, “I don’t want to sound crass or disrespectful, but is this going to put an end to the activities, do you think?”
“I don’t know about the whole event, but since it is already afternoon, it will for today. Depending on what needs to be done and how quickly they can do it, we may be able to continue tomorrow.”
Nina mused, “I wonder what happened. What concerns me most of all right now is the possibility that whoever did this is still here. I mean, someone did this, right? The guy didn’t skewer himself with something, surely.”
Tom responded, “No, I would think not. I certainly didn't see anything lying around that he would have used and I can't imagine why someone would do themselves in like that. I might be able to find out more from Archer. Since he’s on the police force, maybe he can fill me in on whatever is being released, although I’m sure he can’t tell me everything. I have to wonder what the guy was doing out there in the woods. It’s on the far side, away from most everything that was going on.”
“How long do you think he has been there?” Perri wondered.
“I don’t know, but it didn’t look like he’d been there a long time. The blood was still pretty fresh looking, not dark or dried.”
Across the field, an officer emerged from the trees and unrolled bright yellow caution tape across an expanse of the border between the field and woods, then turned and re-entered the woods, wrapping the tape around a tree every couple dozen feet.
Tom looked concerned, “I’m wondering if we are going to be able to camp here tonight. Our tents are more toward the highway rather than immediately in front of the area that's been marked off, but they are along that tree line.”
“That’s true, I didn’t think of that,” Nina said.
A buzz on their radio beckoned the paramedics who had been waiting to be summoned at the near edge of the field with a stretcher on a gurney. After talking briefly into the radio, the medic with the radio picked up the lightweight body board and the other hefted the duffel pack onto his shoulder; they both trekked across the field to the woods, leaving the gurney where it stood.
The crowd waited, murmuring and surmising and supposing about the possibilities. Hushed voices combined to create a low, constant hum. Most of the sutlers, reluctant to leave their tables of goods unattended, stood on tip-toe or on stools trying to catch a glimpse of the drama. The woman attending the table from which Nina had purchased the knife was standing on a small table scrutinizing the crowd, from one side to the other and then back.
Tom had been quietly ruminating over the situation. He abruptly turned to Nina and Perri, saying, “You know, we didn’t plan on doing the forest exercises until just before we started them. If we hadn’t, that body may not have been found when it was. Depending on who it is and whether or not he was here alone, it may not have been located until significantly later. I have to wonder if someone thought they could hide it there long enough for the event to end and everyone to leave. If so, that didn’t work out.”
Perri observed, “I see they aren’t letting anyone leave just yet. Most everyone is hemmed in here by the gates put up for the entrance, that fence running along the property on the other side of the sutlers’ tents, and the field over there. This should be interesting.”
“That it should, because if the person responsible is still here and they feel thwarted in getting away…” Tom let the sentence trail off.
At that moment, the paramedics reappeared from the cover of the trees carrying the board between them, laden with a zipped body bag that was secured with three straps of webbing. The man in the suit and Archer Vaughn followed closely behind them. Once back across the field, the paramedics laid the board on the gurney and began trolleying it carefully over the bumpy ground. The man in the suit followed Archer to the row of sutlers’ tents. The crowd parted, reformed, and reshaped itself around the men like a living being as it moved along in pursuit of information.
“Let’s go see what we can see, everyone else is,” said Nina as she sprung up from the bench.
Nina, Tom, and Perri followed along with the crowd as far as they were able to go, which wasn’t very far. They stood, awkwardly, waiting for something, listening to those nearby to pick up anything about the situation. Within a few minutes, a keening, emotional wail sounded through the grounds. It rose upward and was reflected by the overhead canopy of the trees back down upon the group of loosely gathered people. There was a stillness in the crowd, which was by now a homogenous blend of visitors and re-enactors, both in uniform and civilian clothing.
Perri put her hand to her throat, “Oh boy, that just tears me up. Someone has just been told they lost a family member or someone they knew.”
Nina nodded soberly, “Yeah, I know that sound.”
“Someone here knows the man.”
The crowd silently parted again as a police officer escorted a sobbing woman through their midst. Her hands over her face, her shoulders shaking, the officer supported her on his arm as he led her to the exit and to his car.
Perri looked at Nina and said, “That’s the lady you … one of the sutlers. I saw her earlier when I bought my earrings.”
“Yes, I did too.” Nina side-eyed Perri, who barely shrugged.
Tom rubbed his unshaven chin, “Oh man. This is getting worse by the moment. Do you two mind if I go try to find out what’s going on?”
“No, Tom, go find out if you can,” answered Nina. "And come back and let us know, too."
“Ok, but … stay here if you will, I mean stay around other people.”
They both nodded and Tom hastily headed into the throng of people.
“What’s going on? Does anyone know yet?” A woman had walked up behind Nina and Perri. She didn’t speak loudly, but it startled them anyway. Perri turned. The woman wore period garb: full skirts, bodice, blouse, and bonnet. There was an apron tied around her waist along with a leather utensil pouch. She was drying her hands on a soiled linen towel. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to barge in on you. I heard the commotion, but I’ve been working in the cooking area and couldn’t walk away without moving all the food off the fire. What’s happened?”
Nina frowned, “We don’t know for sure, but someone has been killed here.”
“Killed? How? You mean like out on the field? I’ve seen something like that on tv shows, someone getting killed by a cannon or something at a re-enactment, but I’ve never heard of it happening.”
Perri responded, “Not on the field, well, not that anyone knows. No details yet, but it looks like someone got stabbed.”
The woman held her kitchen towel over her mouth. “Oh!” She stood staring past Perri and Nina for nearly a minute, then realized they were both looking at her. She said, “I’m Emeline.”
“Hi Emeline. I’m Perri and this is Nina. Nina’s husband Tom is here as a re-enactor. He’s gone to try to find out more
about what happened.”
“I see.” Emeline twisted the towel in her hands.
Nina asked, “Were you the one who made the beans and salt pork?”
“What?” Emeline looked at Nina distractedly.
“We ate lunch here earlier and had the beans. They were really good, I just wanted to tell you if you had made them.”
“Oh, forgive me, I was distracted by this, I can’t quite believe it.”
“We can’t either. It’s a little scary too, because they don’t know who did it, or at least we don’t think they do.”
“Yes, that is a scary thought.” Emeline forced a smile that looked strained and said, “I’m kind of new to this re-enacting stuff. Everything I’d heard about it was positive though. I sure haven’t heard about something like this happening. Have you? Are you from here?” she asked.
Nina answered, “No, we drove in from Indiana for it. My husband, Tom, is big into re-enacting and Archer is a friend of his.”
“Archer?”
“Yes, he helped organize the event. He and Tom know each other from other re-enactments.”
“Ok. I don’t really know many people yet. I’ve always wanted to give this a try.” Emeline gestured to her clothing, “I borrowed this clothing from a friend so I could get some experience helping out with the cooking. I had to pick a name, my impression name they call it. I picked Emeline.”
Perri nodded, “Emeline is a fine name for re-enacting. I like it. Yes, I think it would be fun to do this, just not today maybe.”
“No, definitely not.” Emeline glanced over her shoulder a couple of times, back toward the cooking area, “I guess I’d better get back over there. Are you staying here around the camp, or…?”
“No, we aren’t participating. We’re staying in a hotel in Midlothian.”
Emeline smiled, “Well, have a safe trip back. Nice to meet you.”
“You too.” Perri reached out to shake her hand.
Emeline looked at Perri’s hand, “I’ve got grease and goo and all kinds of stuff on my hands, I don’t want to get it on you. You don’t realize how often you use a kitchen sink until you don’t have one.”
Perri agreed and dropped her hand. “Nice to meet you too,” Nina added as Emeline turned and walked swiftly back toward the outdoor kitchens.
“I wish Tom would come back.” Nina fidgeted. “I wonder if this whole thing was a disagreement over the re-enactment, like two re-enactors getting mad for real over the opposing sides they are portraying. Maybe a Union man and a Confederate man getting carried away.” She paused again. “Surely not. That seems petty.”
“People are petty and they can sometimes be thoughtless.” Perri remarked in a knowing voice.
“True. I’m glad I’m not staying here, and I can’t say I want Tom to stay here either, not unless they catch whoever did this by tonight.”
Chapter 7
“Let’s walk outside.” The tall man crooked his finger at the only slightly shorter man as he placed the book he had been reading on the small table next to his upholstered chair near a window looking out over Westhampton Lake. Roger Morris followed the older, distinguished man outside through an arched limestone doorway that looked like it could have been salvaged from a medieval monastery, but was in fact from 1955, when Boatwright Memorial Library was built. The campus of the University of Richmond was teeming with students at the moment: some bicycling, others jogging, lounging on the grassy areas, or walking to and from classes. Roger wasn’t looking forward to this conversation, but knew he had to get it over with.
As they walked the path along the southwest side of the building, the carillon bells in the library’s tower rang out. Roger clenched his teeth. This would further delay the start of the exchange, even if only by a minute or two, but it hoisted his anxiety level up another notch.
The man walked slowly, thoughtfully. His head bent, he had slipped one hand in the pocket of his expensive-appearing tailored slacks and the other was at his chin, in a thinking posture. When the chiming music ended, he stopped and waited until it had completely faded away. Still gazing at the pavement, he turned toward Roger and only then lifted his head to look directly and pointedly into Roger’s light blue eyes. Even though he wore a small smile on his face, the man’s own gray eyes were cold and unforgiving. His thick black hair was touched here and there by gray but showed no sign of thinning with age. Roger could smell the man’s cologne, not heavily, just enough to detect it. The sun was warm, but not quite warm enough to cause the sweat that was beading up and running down Roger’s temples and back.
The man spoke, quietly but sternly, “I’m sure you are already aware that I’m not pleased.” His smile broadened. To anyone watching them, it looked like an amiable conversation. Roger shifted his feet. The man pointed to the carillon tower, “Already five o’clock. This isn’t what I expected from you.”
“I know, I realize that.” The man continued to stare at Roger. “I definitely will fix this problem.”
“Yes! Yes, you will. I am glad we are in total agreement on this. The only thing uncertain right now is when you will do so. When do you predict that I can expect that to occur?” He crossed his arms and tilted his head to the left and formed his features into a look of concern one might get from a close friend upon learning one’s family member was gravely ill.
“As soon as possible, I…”
“Well, that goes without saying. That isn’t up for debate. I’m asking you specifically when you are going to rectify your failure.”
Roger tried to swallow before continuing, both to ease the discomfort of the choking feeling he was having and to give him a moment to figure out what to say. He couldn’t get enough saliva to successfully swallow and ended up making an embarrassing retching noise. The man continued to penetrate Roger’s dilated pupils with his gaze. For a moment, he was convinced the man could burrow past the pupils, blast through the lenses, and tunnel straight down the optic nerves into his brain to read his thoughts. He started talking rapidly, “Yes, yes, I’m on it.”
“You’re on it?” The man’s eyebrows formed two dark arches over his metallic quality eyes. “You are on it. Well then, all my worries are over, aren’t they? That’s all I need to hear, isn’t it? That you are on it.” He stepped forward just a little bit and leaned forward.
Roger sputtered, “Today, I’m going to try again.” He saw the man’s dark look of disapproval and added, “I’m going to do it today. I have to find it though. I have to find where it is. I don’t know where it is.”
“Find it. Find out.” Through teeth clamped firmly together, he continued, “Make a plan and execute it. Successfully. I’m not one to reiterate what I want. I don’t want to have to make this request again.”
Roger quickly responded, “For sure, I totally get you.” The man looked at him with revulsion. “I’ll do it. I can do it.”
“I’m counting on it.” The man stepped back, smiling a brilliant smile. He laughed out loud while patting Roger on the shoulder, “Take care of yourself, great to see you. Say hello to your wife. I hope she is doing well.” He meaningfully nodded his head as he turned to stroll on down the path, turning left around the front of the library.
Roger felt his stomach churn. This was not good to start with, and now it was getting worse. The sweat turned cool on his skin and he felt a little lightheaded. He wasn’t sure what reply he gave, if he gave any at all. He watched the man walking away, casually and untroubled, as though just out for a stroll to enjoy the sunshine. Roger’s field of vision slightly whitened at the edges. He looked around for a bench to sit on. None were near enough so he flopped down on the grass under a tree.
He thought to himself, ‘Snap out of it. Get your thoughts together and get this job finished.’ Eventually, his breathing slowed and his heart rate calmed back to a normal rate. Then he felt the anger start. Anger at himself, anger at the man. ‘Who the hell does this guy think he is? If this is so easy, he should do it himself. But no, he do
esn’t want to get his unblemished hands dirty.’
Roger yanked up the clump of grass he had been clutching in his hand and tossed it to the side. He stood and had a not-so-inconspicuous look around. No one appeared to be watching him and the man had disappeared from view. He hastily rounded the front of the library and cut through between it and Weinstein Hall. Wanting to avoid being observed getting into his own vehicle after the meeting, he had left his car in the parking area for Pitt Baseball Field and took a route among the residence halls to get to the library.
Feeling brave now that he was alone again, Roger almost stomped back to his car. He tried not to look at anyone he passed, but instead balled his fists and released them while glaring at the passing pavement. This method had the unfortunate effect of getting him tangled up in a knot of chatty students transporting a partially unrolled Richmond Spiders banner to the ball field and he had to sidestep and excuse himself out of the clump. Great, not a very clandestine exit. By the time he got to the parking lot he was fuming. He did cling to enough self-control to not start the car and squeal out of the lot like he was tempted to do. Laying down some rubber would feel pretty good right about now, but he couldn’t afford to draw enough attention to himself that someone might remember him. He’d already done that by bobbing around like a cork in the mass of baseball fans. Call his wife, that’s what he needed to do. He took his phone out of its case on his belt and dialed his wife’s cell phone number. He waited while it rang, and rang. There was no answer.
Chapter 8
When Tom came back to where Nina and Perri were waiting, he had Archer with him. “This is Archer Vaughn. Archer, this is my wife, Nina, and our friend, Perri Seamore.” Hands were shaken and Tom continued, “Archer and I were talking about the incident. The man’s name was Russell Calder. He and his wife Eleanor had one of the sutler tents on merchants’ row, selling repro weapons and leather goods.”
Perri and Nina looked at each other, but didn’t say anything.
Buried Roots Page 4