Meacham then summed up his family’s long history with Rudy Gantz back in Parlor City. He suggested if they could locate Gantz’ car, it might lead them to their hide-out. “Let me handle this one. I’ll get with DMV for a description and tags. My boys will start looking for the vehicle.” Grimsley said, feeling that he had to start making a contribution to the case.
“And Judge Rozelle?” Meacham asked, adding “Do we go around Patchett and brief him? Also, I think we need to get back on Hap’s boat as soon as possible and search those locked cabinets.”
“First things first, I can expedite development of the latest pictures snapped by your kid detective. Also, if Reisman does meet with Melmotte today and the boy gets pictures of it, we’ll have even more solid evidence” said Grimsley, adding “Believe me, the judge will be impressed. He knows that Patchett is a self-serving empty suit. As for boarding Hap’s boat without permission, let me give it some thought.”
Meacham stood up to leave, feeling somewhat amazed about how the meeting went. “Sheriff, whatever help you need, consider me and my team of amateurs as extension of your department. I have spoken to our Mayor and even offered to take a leave of absence until Woody was cleared. When he learned that Rudy Gantz was involved, he basically said it was official business and to stay the course.”
At the door, Grimsley stopped Meacham. “I have to say that I’m fascinated by this Doc Sauer and his theory on the apparent bite marks on the victim’s arm. Is this stuff for real?” Grimsley asked.
“Not sure myself, Sheriff, but I certainly want to believe it for Woody’s sake. Guess we won’t know for sure until we find Rudy Gantz and get an expert to examine his teeth.”
“Let’s nail these sons of bitches, Chief” Grimsley said with a grim laugh, sticking out his hand.
***
It was late morning and Doc Sauer chose a new bench in the park, imagining that he might be watched and deciding that good surveillance required that he vary his routine. Herzog was on his lap. He had only gotten to page five and already felt that he owed an apology to the great novelist.
Jerry sat on the top step of the gazebo, rotating his neck on a 180-degree angle, hopeful of catching a glimpse of Reisman. A few minutes later, Doc Sauer spotted Melmotte exiting the bank and signaled to Jerry.
As they trailed behind the banker, Jerry noticed that he was carrying a brown valise identical to the one Reisman had with him yesterday. They must have already met, Jerry surmised. But then, why get together again so soon?
Outside a coffee shop on the edge of downtown, Melmotte stopped abruptly and stood next to a newspaper vending machine. Jerry panned the street and saw Reisman walking toward the coffee shop carrying a brown valise. He did a double take and looked back at Melmotte holding an identical valise. Jerry pulled up the camera and focused as Reisman approached and stood next to Melmotte, facing the vending machine. Reisman bent over as if to buy a newspaper and, as he did, he exchanged valises with Melmotte, who was staring ahead like a statue. Jerry snapped away and got a few pictures of the switch and then took photographs of both men as they walked off in opposite directions.
As arranged in advance, Doc Sauer followed Earl Melmotte to confirm his return to the bank. Jerry was supposed to head straight back to the cottage but Doc Sauer looked back to see him take off after Jakob Reisman.
***
When Grimsley arrived at the office after his meeting with Meacham, he had a bounce in his step that had been missing for some time. He was eager to execute what he told himself was an ingenious ploy. He placed a call to the Birdsongs and informed them that some very strong leads had been developed which, at the very least, cast serious doubt on Woody Meacham’s culpability. Based on the assurances they had received from Patchett, the Birdsongs were aghast and even accused Grimsley of disrupting a case that was supposedly airtight. When Grimsley tried to explain, the telephone went dead.
***
Within thirty minutes, Grimsley received a frantic call from the D.A. He was on the way over.
***
“Jesus H. Christ, how could you upset these grieving parents at a time like this, Harold? What the hell has come over you? New evidence, promising leads? Are you insane? When I told you to follow normal procedures the other day, I didn’t mean it literally. It’s what we call pro forma. If you possess credible information that points away from the Meacham boy, why didn’t you inform me?” The placid, contented look on Grimsley’s face was about to drive Patchett over the edge. He was talking so rapidly and excitedly that he winded himself, providing an opening for Grimsley to talk.
“Now Ozbert, relax and I will explain. Don’t forget, you were quite pleased with the earlier anonymous caller about the knife hidden behind the cottage. This new evidence just came to me this morning from an anonymous source and I’m in the process of corroborating it. I will tell you that it involves potential drug dealing right under our noses which may be connected not just to Birdsong’s murder but the killing of his friend in Washington, DC who, it so happens, was here in Parlor Harbor just a week ago. Doesn’t that make you want to dig deeper?”
Patchett was flummoxed and he sensed, correctly, that he was being simultaneously cornered and patronized by Grimsley. Normally, these new developments involving drug dealing and multiple murders, if true, would please Patchett as they would produce juicy headline opportunities. But right now, they were very inconvenient complications. The D.A. wanted and needed simplicity, a clear and direct path to a speedy conviction of Woody Meacham, the son of a Police Chief. It dawned on him that a prolonged trial would push him past the gubernatorial race and out of contention. The matriarch would not be pleased with such a development.
Patchett stared at Grimsley and the contented, defiant look was still there. He had even called him Ozbert again and it stuck uncomfortably in the D.A.’s craw. He desperately wanted to demand that Grimsley reveal his new sources but sensed that he would be denied. He wasn’t up to handling more defiance from the sheriff.
“People are scared, Harold. They’re starting to lock their doors at night. This is no time to be chasing rainbows.” Patchett was using his most soothing voice, hoping it would have a salutary effect. “Yes, well the rest of us don’t have a private security force guarding our property, do we Ozbert? And it’s not like we have a rampaging killer on the loose. But that’s beside the point, isn’t it? What we strive for is justice, you and me.”
Grimsley was smiling and Patchett realized that the sheriff was enjoying himself. He frowned and his face turned red. “If you have something concrete, I want to see it – and soon, sheriff. I don’t know what you’re up to or what you’re trying to prove but ………” Patchett couldn’t conjure up any more words. His mouth hung open in an oval shape but nothing came out. Frustrated, he turned away and stormed out of Grimsley’s office.
Nellie Birdsong looked over and saw the sheriff smiling with his hands on his hips. She hadn’t been working there for long but had never seen him in what could only be called a joyful mood.
***
Right after Patchett left, Grimsley called the DMV and they identified a 1946 metallic green Ford Custom Club coupe registered to a Rudolph Gantz of Parlor City. He instructed Deputy Benjamin to patrol the streets of Parlor Harbor and Port Ryan and call him immediately if he located the vehicle. A car that distinctive shouldn’t be hard to find.
Grimsley was reflecting on his meeting with Meacham that morning, certain that he had done the right thing. In fact, he felt that a tremendous mental burden had been lifted.
He was anxiously awaiting a call from Meacham about the Melmotte surveillance when the door opened and Cecil Ainsworth walked in. He dropped a report on the sheriff’s desk and asked, “Do you want me to summarize if for you?”
Ainsworth was still smarting from the premature release of the crime scene photographs and assumed that the smile on Grimsley’s face was contemptuous. He had no reason to believe that the sheriff was other than a lackey for Patchett.
Grimsley nodded for Ainsworth to proceed. “The state crime lab report of the knife found behind the cottage confirms that traces of blood were found on it but they were animal – not human, sheriff.” Grimsley was confused and looked at Ainsworth for an explanation. Exasperated, the coroner explained, “It was a steak knife, sheriff. You know, a utensil that someone uses to cut into a side of beef? Most likely, some idiot took a dirty knife from Pappy’s and buried it. I’ll leave it to you to figure out what it means for your investigation.”
Grimsley didn’t mind the sarcasm and brightened up as he recalled the night he brought Woody in for questioning. He had noticed that there were no cuts on either of his hands and it struck him as odd at the time for someone who would allegedly have been engaged in a vicious knife slashing. But, of course, I was blinded then, wasn’t I, he said to himself.
Ainsworth was staring impatiently when Grimsley looked at him and said, “Most interesting, Cecil, and most revealing. All I can say for now is that we are vigorously pursuing a number of leads and apparently the D.A.’s office is not at all pleased. We should stay in touch.”
Ainsworth had a puzzled look on his face as he started to leave when Grimsley had a thought and stopped him at the door. He whispered conspiratorially, “It would be interesting if this information got leaked to the press like the crime scene photographs, wouldn’t it? Turnaround is fair play, right?”
After Ainsworth left, Grimsley called Pritchard Cottage and Meacham answered the phone. The sheriff started by relating, with considerable relish, his confrontation with Patchett. “As the wifey always says, ‘pull a loose thread and’ ….well, whatever. I’ll tell you more when we get together. Hey, the coroner just left me and here’s the important news. The so-called bloody knife we found behind your cottage – the crime lab says there’s nothing on it but the remains of a good steak, Billy.”
Gwen was standing next to Meacham when he said “Wow, Harold, great news” and hung up the phone. “Harold?” she asked, laughing. “He called me, Billy, dear” Meacham explained. “I guess we’re officially a team now. He was talking about Patchett and said something about pulling a loose thread.” Gwen laughed and said, “Sounds like the D.A. is unraveling, Billy, but what did he say?”
“Let’s go talk to Woody. I want you both to hear the good news at the same time.”
***
“Is it possible that this Meacham character got to him, Ozbert?” said Miss Henrietta, not expecting a reply. Patchett had gone home after leaving Grimsley’s office, risking opprobrium but looking for succor the only place he knew he might get it. He was perplexed and confused as he described the meeting with the sheriff.
“We thought he would play along and apparently we guessed wrong” she said while pacing the room. “Of course, he’s not one of us and undoubtedly resents your success. It’s no time to cry over spilt milk. You need to buck up and act like the D.A. I hope to god you didn’t create a scene in his office. People react negatively to signs of weakness.” Patchett looked away and said nothing. He wanted to ask her about the knife that had been discovered behind Pritchard Cottage, now certain that Grimsley had not planted it there. Once again, he backed down.
The matriarch knew she had to exert herself or her grandson would likely succumb to the mounting pressure. She was standing by the window, looking out at the stables when she turned to Patchett and said, “Don’t be surprised when you get a call from the press later today. You told me earlier that the case would be airtight if you had another witness, remember? Okay, that’s what you’ll get. Don’t ask any questions but act surprised when you hear the news. Now, get back to the office and assume the aura of Mr. D.A.”
***
Late that afternoon, Ned Taggart walked into the offices of radio station WPH and announced that he had withheld shocking evidence in the Birdsong murder case. After his statement was transcribed and taped, it was on the air as breaking news within a matter of minutes. Taggart left the station and, as instructed, refused to answer any questions. He claimed that he was standing near Woody Meacham at Pappy’s bar the night of the murder and witnessed the confrontation with Ralph Birdsong. Taggart swore that before Meacham left the bar, he saw him grab a steak knife from the service area and put it in his pocket.
Almost everyone who heard the news concluded that the fate of Woody Meacham was sealed. But there were a few people in Parlor Harbor who knew that the Patchetts were desperate and, unaware of the crime lab report, had just committed a colossal blunder.
***
Doc Sauer returned to the cottage and gleefully reported that Earl Melmotte met with Reisman and returned directly to the bank after exchanging brown valises with the enigmatic Canadian. When he announced that Jerry had gone off after Reisman, Woody urged his father to go looking for his friend.
***
Meacham spotted Jerry coming out of Pappy’s with a perplexed look on his face. When he saw Meacham, he was frowning and waving his hands over his head in frustration. “He was wearing a straw hat when he met Melmotte. I trailed him for a few blocks and he threw the hat in the trash and kept walking. Then he went into that candle shop back there, came out right away and then walked into Pappy’s. So, I waited a few minutes and went inside but he was nowhere to be found. I even checked the bathroom.”
Meacham looked stern. “It’s an old trick, Jerry. Most likely, he went out the back door of Pappy’s as soon as he came in. He was probably just being cautious but if he did spot you, that means he will be on guard and that is not what we wanted.” Jerry hung his head and Meacham decided to let it go. What did he expect from his amateur police squad, perfection? He put his arm around Jerry’s shoulder and said, “C’mon, I want to introduce you to the newest member of our team. You are in for a surprise.”
Jerry shook his head and mumbled “what an idiot” under his breath. Then, he rallied and said. “I got some great shots of the money transfer, Mr. M. You’re gonna love’em. At least I didn’t screw that up. Can you believe they were carrying identical brown valises?” Jerry added, scratching his head as they walked away.
***
“So, this is a member of your special detective force, Chief?” said Grimsley as Meacham walked into the sheriff’s office with Jerry. After handshakes all around, Jerry described the events of the afternoon. Nellie Birdsong was off work that day or Jerry would have been in for a bigger shock than seeing these two former adversaries working together.
Grimsley shook his head. “Earl must be in some kind of serious financial trouble to have gone this far. It will kill his father, if true. Well, let’s talk about next steps. What do you propose, Chief?”
“Once we get a look at Jerry’s photographs from yesterday and today, it should establish a clear link between all of the parties. You offered to expedite development of the film so I would say that’s a priority. Second, we need to get our hands on the drugs, the sooner the better. If we don’t locate Gantz and Reisman soon, are you okay with going to Hap’s boat?” Meacham stopped and looked at Grimsley.
“I’ve been giving it some thought since we met this morning. It seems to me that we can’t wait any longer based on what you have already learned. I’ll get a hold of Hap and let him know we’re working together. Let’s have him place a call to my office tonight at a set time saying there’s a prowler on the boat. We’ll race over there to investigate and discover, much to our surprise, that the cabinets in Hap’s office have been broken into. If we find something, our story will be that the prowler fled quickly and left behind whatever he was after when he heard us come on board. Sound plausible enough?”
Grimsley winked at Jerry who looked confused. Meacham grinned and said, “Works for me. By tomorrow, we will hopefully be in a position to go to Judge Rozelle.”
As they all stood up, Meacham asked the sheriff about the new witness who suddenly surfaced alleging that Woody put a knife in his pocket at Pappy’s. Grimsley laughed scornfully. “Old Ned Taggart will be brought in today
to give a sworn statement – if we can find him. And that is a very big if. He a shiftless, lay-about character. Works off and on at the stables out at the Patchett property. They probably have something on him. I have a feeling that Taggart is already some place far away from Parlor Harbor.”
Meacham wanted to ask more but let it go. With Ainsworth’s crime report, it seemed that things were finally starting to go their way.
***
It was a little after 9:00 that evening when the call came into the sheriff’s office about a prowler aboard the Happy Scotsman. Surprising the deputy on duty, Grimsley offered to investigate and left immediately. Meacham was sitting outside in his car waiting for the sheriff. They were at the dock within minutes.
Hap MacQuarrie was on the upper deck and waved them on board. Grimsley had told him that Meacham was coming with him but he was still amazed when he saw the two men walking side by side and said, “Crikey, well I’ll be damned. Follow me gentlemen.”
As they approached the office, Hap turned to Meacham and Grimsley with a feigned hangdog look on his face. “After I called in, sheriff, I couldn’t help myself. I grabbed my axe and smashed the doors on both cabinets. You’re not going to be pleased with what you see.”
Hap flipped on the office light and they all stared at the splintered doors of the cabinets, hanging lopsided on their hinges. Grimsley walked over and gingerly pulled open each door. Shadows partially darkened the insides of both cabinets but it was easy to see that they were both empty.
A Murder In Parlor Harbor Page 17