Snow Signs
Page 6
She was sending me a message!
Even though he couldn’t understand all the signs she was using, he knew she would be back—time and time again—until she was sure the message had been received. Her intent was clear. Communication was not the only objective. She wanted to ensure her killer was caught.
Chapter Twelve
Preoccupied with thoughts of signs in the snow, Claire did not hear the solid rap on the front door until it became a persistent, urgent knocking that could not be ignored.
Carefully folding her dishtowel on the countertop, she turned around to see Myra peering in through the montage of flowers on the wreath hanging over the center pane of glass.
Claire waved and hastened over to let her in.
“Have you looked outside today?”
Myra rushed ahead, not waiting for an answer. “I hope you were able to talk to Jim. Unfortunately there’s not much left.”
She shook her head disappointedly. “The water’s pretty much washed everything away.”
As Myra motioned for her to come outside, Claire looked at her quizzically. “Whatever are you talking about, Myra?”
“She’s talking about the water bubbling up out here in the yard.” Claire looked up to see Kate standing next to a small pond of water seeping out of the ground.
“Good Lord! What in the world is that?” Claire hurried over to get a closer look at the liquid oozing forth from the area where the shoe prints and the blood had been yesterday.
All three women stood transfixed, not talking, but trying to make sense out of the whole scenario.
Finally Myra spoke, “Kate and I were just beginning our morning walk when I glanced over and noticed water coming up in your yard. I thought it might have been the same spot where you showed me the blood and prints, so I came in for a closer look.”
“Do you think you might have a water leak?” Kate stared while Claire knelt down to touch the fluid.
Shaking her hand of the drops that accumulated there, Claire seemed puzzled as she replied, “That’s strange. The water is fairly warm…and there’s no freezing as it comes up through the ground.”
The three of them quietly studied the unusual anomaly for several minutes.
“Well, I’m glad Jim saw the evidence and was able to take some samples before they were washed away.”
Claire’s head jerked up when she realized that Jim had only left a short while ago. “At least I think he did,” she whispered.
The two other women didn’t quite understand what Claire was talking about, but noticed her concern and rushed to reassure her.
“Don’t worry about it, Claire,” Kate said. “It’s probably just a coincidence that the water is here.”
Myra jumped in, “You might want to call the office and have the guys come over and check it.”
Helpfully, “Maybe you have a leak. It’s close to the meter pit,” she added.
Claire thanked the ladies and wished them well as they started their walk.
Yeah, like that’s going to make me feel better! Just what I don’t need right now—a water leak! She smiled as she thought about their futile attempts to make her feel better.
But her smile turned to a frown when she considered the latest clue. Because that’s what I think it is—a clue, not a water leak. The water is warm and why would it just spring up like that?
“I need to call Jim,” she spoke aloud while walking back to the house.
Worried, she hoped he was able to take some samples. But, what if he wasn’t?
* * * * *
Black spread over the landscape at a maddeningly slow pace. Ominous clouds loomed overhead, signaling the coming winter storm…and a figure watched from the woods, waiting patiently.
But fingers drummed silently against a leg and hands flew out from a body in response to growing tension...and the wait continued, with the sentinel desiring the secret that could give an answer to what happened to Libby Newman.
Murkiness finally swept away illumination and the lone form crept slowly towards the house, so quietly that the steps emitted no sounds, no crunching, no twigs snapping, only the hush of falling snow on top of an established wintry foundation, already laid out, blending the old with the new.
The shape appeared in front of Libby’s house quickly; even the small creatures in the woods would have startled if they had been present to note the arrival.
Focused on the goal but mindful of any intrusion, slowly, stealthily, it moved towards the garage, keeping surroundings always in focus so as not to ignore any signs of another’s nearness.
A side door that allowed access to the garage was the destination, and it loomed larger as the silent figure approached.
Then, the door knob rattled ever so slightly and a smile lit up dim countenance.
It’s unlocked!
A faint swish of air and the figure disappeared. Could it have been a sigh of relief coming from someone? Or, could it have been the sound of a door opening to allow the shadowy trespasser access to the secret?
Time might tell but the brooding storm erupted into a fury of foreboding, unleashing darkness that hid the answer from all but one.
* * * * *
Jim Hoppes studied the impending storm as he stood outside the new Law Enforcement facility in Nashtown, Indiana. A frown formed, but it was hard to tell if it was in response to the promise of several new inches of snow, or because of the information he had just received.
The sheriff had been very agreeable to Jim’s request to use the lab to check the blood samples and knife he had brought in. Maybe he was eager to show off the new technology they had, or maybe he was just in a good mood. Either way, Jim was grateful for the help.
The frown changed to a smile when he remembered the way Sheriff Wayne proudly offered him a tour of the new building while the lab technician poured over the blood and knife.
“Best jail in southern Indiana, Jim. Bar none.”
“I agree, Ken, but you sure had to jump through some hoops to get it, didn’t you.”
Sheriff Wayne shook his head, “True, true, but I think the taxpayers are coming around,” he paused, “Especially now that they see how much it’s contributing to the community.”
Jim laughed, “You mean now that you have more room to put the bad guys behind bars instead of walking the streets of downtown Nashtown, don’t you.”
Ken smiled, “You wouldn’t be making fun of our little town, would you, Jim?”
Both men chuckled, remembering the long drawn-out struggles with the County Council over the expenditure of a new jail. Tempers flared, but in the long run, both sides had agreed that it would bring new revenues to the county and a safer environment for Nashtown.
As they stood in the lobby, looking around the facility, the door to the lab opened.
The county’s only technician, Shirley Trusty, stood facing both men with hands on her hips. Her hair had a patch on the right side where tufts flailed out uncontrollably.
Almost like she’d been scratching her head, Jim thought.
“Are you ready to hear my conclusions?”
She motioned for them to come in without waiting for an answer, and closed the door behind them.
* * * * *
A few flakes of new snow started to fall on Jim’s face as he stood outside the jail, still lost in thought.
What does it all mean? And, more importantly, how am I going to tell Claire?
He was having a hard time understanding the ramifications of what Shirley had just told him and Sheriff Wayne.
After the results of the tests were given, they both went to Ken’s office to discuss them further.
Jim explained where the blood samples came from and what had happened up to this point, leaving out any suspicions that they had about Libby.
Both men sat in silence, considering the possibilities, until Jim added, “I suppose this means you will need to get involved, right?”
The sheriff sat slumped in his chair, but immediatel
y sat upright, putting his feet squarely on the floor in front of him and giving credence to his large stature, all six feet, four inches and two hundred and twenty pounds of mostly muscle. Taking on the position of sheriff had not turned his body to fat like some of his predecessors had had happen to them.
“Of course you know what this means! It’s either someone’s idea of a sick joke or it’s a deliberate threat to Claire! I tend to believe it’s a threat.”
Jim sat quietly before he calmly answered, “I know, Ken, but,” he paused, gathering his thoughts and anticipating the angry barrage that might follow, “could you at least give us a few days to investigate this on our own?”
He rushed ahead before the sheriff had any time to lash out. “You know Claire. She’s a good detective. She’s got some ideas about what might have happened and she’s asked for my help. Would you let the two of us look into this before you get any of your men involved?”
Ken Wayne stared at Jim and opened his mouth, then shut it again, allowing precious seconds to tick by on the clock. He lowered his head and shuffled some papers on his desk before answering, “Okay, it’s your jurisdiction anyway,” he sighed.
“But,” he looked up at Jim with fire in his eyes, “you’d better get back to me with some news no later than Friday.”
Jim extended his hand, and as the two men shook hands, the sheriff warned him again, “No later than Friday…I mean it.”
Before letting Jim’s hand go, he added, “Claire might be in for far more than you two can imagine.”
* * * * *
Driving back to the Sweetwater Conservancy, Jim kept his eyes on the road, slowing down considerably when a sudden burst of snowflakes clouded his vision and made for almost whiteout conditions. Patches of new snow had already formed on the asphalt. Over packed-down existing ice, it caused treacherous road conditions.
The tires on this squad car aren’t the best. Should have replaced those months ago...if the County had given the Conservancy their share of property tax revenues when they were supposed to!
Jim shook his head. Need to take my mind off politics and keep an eye on other drivers. Can’t predict how people will drive in this weather.
Luckily not many drivers were on the roads. Brown County residents were used to what the snowy circumstances could do to their back roads.
Many had made their way to the local grocery store, stocked up with enough food to feed an army for weeks, and arrived home safely, ready to wait out the storm in confidence, knowing that they would be well-fed, warm and safe for the duration.
Chances are they had been listening to the radio when the weather forecast had come on to predict an additional seven inches of new snow before nightfall. That would have been enough to make all but the heartiest run for the security of home, well before quitting time.
With his mind on the weather, but also on the information he had to share with Claire, Jim recalled what Shirley had told them.
This changes the whole picture, he thought. Even though it will take a few more days to get the full results, knowing what we now know about the blood is disturbing enough!
Coming up on a slight curve in the road, Jim gently let up on the accelerator, adjusting the speed down to what he thought was safe enough to accommodate the weather conditions.
Unfortunately, as he felt the car begin to turn, he also felt the back tires slide dangerously close to the side of the road, and before he could bring it out, Jim looked up to see the fence and the tree beside it looming alarmingly close.
Before the car crashed into both, all he could think about was making sure Claire knew the danger she might be in…and then he blacked out.
Chapter Thirteen
“Why isn’t he answering his phone?” Claire paced back and forth, taking time every few minutes to look out her window or check the weather forecast on TV.
At first she had tried his home phone, thinking he might have already returned from Nashtown without stopping by or calling.
Maybe he just dropped the evidence off and doesn’t have anything to tell me yet.
Or, she thought, he might be sleeping. After all this has been a rough few days for him too!
Finally, she had given in to her anxiety and called the Conservancy Office to see if he was still on duty. Laura, the new part-time receptionist, had responded that ‘Yes indeed Jim was still on duty and should be returning from Nashtown any time’. She had assured Claire that she would have him call her as soon as he arrived.
Claire waited until after five o’clock but her concern started to mount as she watched the weather unfold outside and listened to the dire forecast on television for the rest of the evening.
Calling his cell phone repeatedly now, she felt the beginnings of fear grip her stomach. Her breath caught in her throat as her imagination conjured up all kinds of scenarios. She exhaled loudly and purposefully worked at calming herself down.
This is silly! He’s probably safe at home, not wanting to be bothered. More than likely he left the samples and they won’t have the results ready until later.
The persistent jangling of the phone brought her out of her thoughts and made her jump.
She rushed to pick it up. “Hello,” she answered urgently.
“Good. You’re there. I was hoping you weren’t out in this weather.”
“Chief! Hi!”
Before she could continue with social pleasantries, he interrupted her, “Listen, I’m calling because I got a phone call just a few minutes ago from your sheriff, Ken Wayne. You know Ken, right?”
“Yes, I know him,” Claire answered cautiously.
“Well, he doesn’t have your number since you just moved down there and he’s trying to get in touch with you.”
“Is there anything wrong, Marvin?” Claire’s voice took on an even more serious tone.
“I guess Jim Hoppes came to see him today…about a case the two of you are working on together.”
He paused before adding, “What the hell is that all about, Claire? Jesus Christ! You’re supposed to be retired!”
“Calm down, Chief,” she cautioned him, “Just tell me what’s going on with Jim. I’ve been trying to reach him and so far, nothing.”
“He’s been in an accident, Claire.”
Her heart skipped a beat and her hand flew up to her mouth, “An accident! What happened? Is he alright?”
“He’s going to be fine, but he’s in the hospital.”
“What hospital?”
“Frederick General,” Chief responded, “but you’re not going by yourself if you have any ideas about that. Wait there. I’m coming to pick you up.”
He abruptly hung up before Claire could protest.
“Chief, are you insane?” Claire yelled in the phone but the only sound she heard in return was the dial tone, indicating he had already terminated the call.
“He shouldn’t be driving down here in this weather!”
Claire dialed Chief’s home phone number and Mary answered on the first ring.
“Has he left yet?”
“Of course,” Mary responded, “do you think he would listen to me if he won’t listen to you?”
Both women agreed that Marvin could be very stubborn, having shared many stories with each other about past incidents where he had been especially difficult at work… and at home!
Mary spoke up, “Don’t worry, Claire. Jim will be okay. He’s conscious and the reason Marvin wanted to take you there is because Jim has been asking for you and he didn’t want you to come by yourself. Jim said he has something he needs to tell you right away.”
“What did he want to tell me, Mary?”
“I’m not sure but Marvin said he kept saying that he had to warn you because the blood was human, whatever that meant.”
Claire dropped the telephone on the floor.
“Claire, are you there? What happened? I heard a noise. Did you drop the phone?”
Picking it up gingerly, Claire took a deep breath, and quietly
said, “I’m okay, Mary. I’ll wait for Chief to get here.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, Mary. You’re right. I just dropped the telephone,” she explained.
While looking out the patio door and keeping an eye on the driveway, she saw the headlights of a car turn onto the side road.
“Oh, gotta go. Marvin just arrived. Thanks for your help though, and you take care. I’ll talk to you later.”
Hanging up, Claire hurried to the closet, grabbed her coat, and ran downstairs as she heard the knocking at the back door.
Opening it, she saw the now retired Captain Hennessey standing there, attempting to brush the accumulating snowflakes off his shoulders, but with the rapidly falling precipitation, it was a lost cause.
“Chief,” she admonished, “What were you thinking—coming out in this mess!”
His response was to reach out and hug her. With his hand resting gently on her elbow, he led her to the car, treading slowly through the clumps of snow left by the tire ruts in the driveway.
* * * * *
A lone figure stood watching as the car turned from the side road, lights shining on the steady, fine mist which was continuously gathering momentum. Fading into the distance, the headlights did not shine on the small batch of trees in the front yard. For if they had, the beams might have illuminated the form standing there, gazing at the house, sadness permeating its whole being.
But a sense of crisis would be present also. And by morning, the being would proclaim another sign— new drops of blood on a fresh blanket of snow.
Chapter Fourteen
Marvin and Claire sat in the lobby of Frederick General Hospital, waiting for the nurse to indicate that Jim was in a room and they could visit him.
When they had arrived at the hospital about an hour ago, the emergency room doctor explained that Jim had two cracked ribs, from the impact with the tree and the fence. He also had a deep cut on his forehead, which had required twelve stitches, but other than that, he was conscious, alert and would be transferred to a room so they could monitor him overnight.