It's possible that at that time, Loren pulled out the small hand gun and shot Phillip between the eyes. That is why Phillip had a shocked look on his face. Again let's come back to that later.
Loren told us that she had confided in Lynn Aspen about Phillip making her pregnant back when she found out she was indeed pregnant her senior year. In later years he seemed attached to Loren.
I now come to Lynn Aspen. I'm not a physiologist, but have been around enough crime scenes to deduce some behavior traits. I think Lynn felt guilty over the years about not coming forward with the information about Loren Ripple.
Now here is where it gets a little foggy, but thanks to Willie the fog lifted for a glimpse into the past. Willie discovered one of the rape victims was the daughter of Lynn's wife younger sister. The rape went unsolved. Since his retirement, Lynn has had a lot of free time. He investigated the three rapes for the last three years running. Once he found out that Joel Street's birthday was on the same date three years in a row, he became convinced Joel was the perp.
Last Saturday night he bragged about his T-Bird to an out of town classmate. It was just before dinner and the classmate wanted a ride. This is what Lynn wanted to do was give the guy a ride and then drop him off using some excuse he had to run home for something he forgot. He went to town, used a payphone and called Joel. Somehow he enticed Joel to the boat launch on the river. Ironically, Jill Street was coming later to eat her pizza. Regardless, when Joel arrived, Lynn Aspen shot him and ran the car into the river. He then drove back to the Elks Club and no one thought any difference.
I found out Lynn is a vegetarian and all he ate was his salad, so really no one paid any attention to his absence." All eyes were now on Lynn as he sat there stoic as could be.
Now we come full circle back to the Elks Club and the murder of Phillip Street. I'm totally convinced that………… now would you please stand up Loren Ripple…….thank you….. okay please tell us why you killed Phillip Street."
The room was abuzz with rubber necking around the room. Moss continued with a very powerful voice saying, "Come on Loren tell us why you murdered him and placed the gun under Sean's seat of his car."
Loren held her hands up to her face crying and sobbing. Suddenly Lynn Aspen jumped up and said, "Stop! Stop it! Damn you Moss Adams. She didn't kill Phillip, I did!"
A hush went over the room, but Loren continued crying. Moss, with a very small smile, turned his attention back to Lynn Aspen and said, Would you repeat that statement of confession Lynn Aspen?
With a venomous look in his eyes, Lynn said, "Yes, let me repeat it for the record: I shot and killed both Phillip and Joel Street. I've lived for 70 years. By the time this crime is processed and I'm sent away, I'll be near 80. So have at it. I don't regret for one minute ridding the scum of the earth in those two men."
"Thank you for the confession Lynn. We didn't have enough evidence to charge you with. A confession was all we could hope for."
A uniform office gently took Lynn by the arms and cuffed him; then sat him down with instructions coming from Moss. Moss said, "Lynn, God help you. Taking the life of two humans is tantamount to burning in the lake of fire. Revenge is not the answer. You should have gone to the police with your evidence or belief that Joel was a rapist."
Aftermath
Sean said, "I don't know how you did it Moss. This town can't thank you enough. To see the look on Jon Ashworth's face was worth all the tea in China. I think you made him humble up a bit. Also, I never gave it a thought that Lynn was a killer."
The next day Moss rode with Nellie to the jetty to take a rest. She told him that when the money came in she would go to Paris and take some painting lessons and maybe buy a few new dresses. She laughed and was trying hard to put the pain of losing two of her favorite men, aside.
As Monday came, Moss prepared to go home. Sean and Wendy said retirement was just around the corner. If Moss didn't mind, they would visit him sometime next year. Moss smiled and drove off as if the past week was just another normal week of work.
End
Deadly High School Reunion Page 7