by Hayes, Gayle
I wanted to thank him, but Harry had disappeared as quickly as he appeared.
Detective Gannon would tell Ryan Nichols' parents I deserved their $25,000 reward.
She was about to leave when I told her I needed her help, but I couldn't give her any details yet. I explained I'd met someone recently, and he left to visit his father. I hadn't heard from him in about twenty-four hours. At that time, he thought he might be in danger. I asked her to check whether a Lexus with Nevada plates might have been in an accident between Seattle and Sunset. I had the feeling she thought Michael had dumped me and used his father as an excuse to leave. She would do what she could, but it could take a little time. Then I told her I was sure I was pregnant. I said I might have to leave Sunset, and it might look like I disappeared. I told her as soon as I was safe I'd send her a postcard so she could stop looking for me. She was concerned about me, but she didn't ask any questions. She was walking to her car when I thought of something else I needed to ask.
"My friend received a bouquet of black roses. He's young, and he wasn't celebrating anything. Who would send black roses to a man and not sign the card?" I asked.
"I've never seen anyone get more than one black rose. If he isn't over the hill, I'd guess it was the Mafia. I worked a crime scene once where the hitman left a black rose as his calling card. Maybe they were sending him a message that he owed them or the end was near. I'll let you know what I find out on the Lexus."
I went back into the beach house and cleaned up the mess in the kitchen. The fabric art was a total loss. I took it and the hemlock trim to the dumpster. Then I put the lid back on the Kilz and swept the floor. It seemed ironic I could finally relax and not worry about coming face to face with a murderer on my way to the dumpster, and I was planning to leave.
Michael still had not left a message or called. It had been two days since I saw him and at least twenty-four hours since I expected him back in Sunset. After all that happened, I was numb and prepared for the worst. Either he was dead like Frank, or he was alive and hiding. I didn't believe he'd dumped me. Whatever happened, I'd have to figure out the future by myself. Even if there was a chance he was alive and hiding, I wouldn't tell him about the baby. I didn't want to spend my life hiding and end up like Frank. If Michael had made different choices, I wouldn't have kept his child from him. I realized I was more like my father than I'd imagined. I had a brand new life to think about now. I'd do whatever it took to give my baby the life it deserved. ~Rachel Douglas
* * *
Twyla Taylor identified a mug shot of Walter Kellner as the customer who was served at her Tea Room on the evening of 13 June 2011. The coroner's estimated time of death for Frank (Christopher) Case and Dennis (Wojohowitz) Wagner was sometime that same evening. Mr. Kellner was well known in the underworld of crime for dining on a gourmet meal before a contracted hit. He also had a habit of hiking to and from his contracts in order to maintain anonymity.
Twyla Taylor recalled seeing a black Lexus from the window of her apartment above the Tea Room before she retired on the night Frank Case was shot. The driver of the Lexus parked near the Case home. She recognized the driver as one of Joel's friends who was sharing his apartment for the summer. The man knocked on the front door of the Case home and then went quickly in and out of the cabin where the bodies were found, returned to the Lexus, and drove in the direction of the lighthouse.
Michael Archer frequented casinos in Las Vegas and had met with members of the mob, so it is possible he recognized Walter Kellner walking along the highway. The department has concluded Michael Archer was the driver of the Lexus, he discovered the bodies of Dennis Walter and Frank Case, and he pursued Mr. Kellner for revenge.
Michael Archer's Lexus was found not far from Sunset and at the bottom of a ravine. It appeared Mr. Archer had not been able to negotiate a curve and went over the embankment. However, a badly burned body was found behind the wheel. It was identified from dental records as Walter Kellner. Kellner did not die in the fire. The cause of death was a bullet to the head.
It is very likely Mr. Kellner was picked up, shot, and placed behind the steering wheel before the car was pushed into the ravine. Mr. Kellner's cell phone and eBook reader were found on the seat beside the body. The undamaged items were most likely placed with the body after the fire had burned itself out. The eBook reader was open to the Bible, specifically Exodus 21:12-14. That passage can be interpreted as God's command to avenge a death caused by premeditation. God gives refuge to the one who carries out his sentence.
The department issued the following press release: A 2011 Lexus registered to Michael Archer was found at the bottom of a ravine about one mile from the lighthouse at Sunset, Oregon on the morning of 15 June 2011. The car caught fire after impact. A body in the vehicle burned beyond recognition. Michael Archer was reported missing by his roommate 15 June 2011 and has not been seen since 13 June 2011.
The florist in Hoquarten identified a photo of Sarah Duncan as the person who ordered the black roses for Michael Archer.
Harry Martin finished the pictorial history on the windows at Twyla's Tea Room on the evening of 15 June 2011. He was last seen in the parking lot of the Sunset Beach Access early that same evening.
The department is in receipt of a postcard from Canberra, Australia dated 21 June 2011 with the following message: ALL OK RD+ H.M.
As a result of the foregoing investigation and the message on the postcard, the department concludes (1) Rachel, Harry, and Michael are safe; (2) Rachel is pregnant; (3) Rachel might be in Australia; (4) Rachel might be with Harry Martin; (5) Rachel might be with Michael Archer; (6) Michael Archer is missing.
END OF REPORT
ABOUT GAYLE HAYES, AUTHOR
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Please consider purchasing The Scrimshaw Set: Books 1 & 2 by Gayle Hayes at Amazon also. Book 1 of the novel follows Emma Favager to Montana after her grandmother stipulates Emma must spend time there to claim her inheritance. Emma was raised without knowing her grandmother, Frances. Emma's parents did not allow Frances to see Emma and broke all ties with her. Book 2 was written after two readers requested a sequel. It follows Emma after she leaves Montana and returns to Denver. While Book 1 introduces Frances' friends as Emma does her best to satisfy Frances' demands, Book 2 deals with the dilemma facing Emma. Should she stay in Denver, forget Eric Knudsen, and teach law or should she move to Montana, forget Jack Hennessey, and take over Harold Lowe's law practice?
Both of Gayle's novels are available in all Amazon stores, including the U.S. and India, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, Brazil, and Canada. Gayle will post links at her blog: http://wwwgaylehayes.blogspot.com
The link for The Scrimshaw Set: Books 1 & 2 in the U.S. and India: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AVRO1YS
THANK YOU FOR READING!
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