The Total December Experiment

by J.T. Lewis

  “ Lee, some more pictures, please.”

  “Detective, I believe I can safely say that she wasn’t killed while lying on this quilt. Some blood would have leached up into the back of the quilt, but not this much. Apparently, she was leaning against the tree…sitting directly on the ground while she bled out. Then the killer moved her, positioned the quilt and then her body on the quilt. That’s why so much blood is on the bottom…the quilt wicked the blood on the ground up into the bottom of the quilt.”

  “ Then he posed her.”

  “ Looks that way.”

  “ What about the pillow?”

  “ I have to study the crime scene photos and trace evidence before I can make a definite determination about the pillow. I’ll let you know. Any luck getting an ID on her ?”

  “ Not yet. We’ve gotten decent facial photos from the crime scene and other physical stats to the media, faxed them to other law enforcement agencies and entered them into the database…no hits so far. The remainder of the autopsy gave no additional information other than her stomach contents which were consistent with the picnic items found at the scene.

  I’ll get in touch as soon as the lab reports come back, but I’ll bet my paycheck that the toxicology report will be interesting. Exsanguination due to severed carotids caused her death, but the wounds couldn’t have been this neat and precise if she had struggled at all.”

  Chapter 8

  Manda drove into Gulf Shore, Alabama at 7:35 Wednesday evening. She pulled over to the side of the road to check the route to the Harbor Hotel where a room was waiting for her. Fatigue had set in several hours earlier so she planned another soak in the tub, a room service meal and an early night. She wanted to be fresh for the appointment with Mr. Lanier in the morning.

  Manda did exactly as she planned and woke at 7:00 AM, full of energy and with plenty of time for a nice unhurried breakfast. She was very excited but also apprehensive, not knowing details of what awaited her at Mr. Lanier’s office.

  She arrived 15 minutes early for her appointment and was greeted and seated by a pleasant and genteel receptionist with a soft and pleasing Southern accent. After 10 anxious minutes, a silver haired gentleman strode into the office.

  “ Manda Harris?” At her nod, he introduced himself as her Great aunt’s lawyer of many years.

  “Grace, will you please bring coffee and tea?”

  “Certainly, Mr. Lanier, right away.”

  “ Will you please come back to my office ? I hope you had a pleasant trip,” he said as he directed her to a comfortable looking leather chair.

  Yes, Mr. Lanier, thank you for inquiring. I had a wonderful trip.”

  “Are you planning on becoming a permanent resident of our rapidly growing town ?”

  “ I’m not completely sure, but I plan on staying quite a while before deciding. I don’t want to make any rash decisions.”

  “ Excellent idea Miss Harris. I believe you’re going to be well pleased by your inheritance.”

  At that moment , a knock on the door signaled Grace’s return with the refreshments. After serving them, she returned to her desk.

  “ Miss Harris, Gulf Shores is a rapidly growing young city and a popular vacation spot. However, long before our fair city came into existence, land was purchased by your great aunt’s ancestors….about 150 years ago. You are now the sole owner of 200 acres…prime real estate on the gulf shore, with a private beach, I might add.”

  Manda’s mouth fell open at the unexpected and stunning news.

  “ If it’s acceptable to you, I would like to escort you to see your property at your convenience. It would be so much easier to show you the property rather than trying to tell you about it.”

  Manda found her voice finally. “ Yes, I would like that. We can go at your convenience, however, as I have nothing else on my agenda.”

  “ How about tomorrow? We can enjoy lunch and then view the property. I will meet you in the lobby at 11:15, if that is agreeable.”

  “ That sounds perfect, Mr. Lanier.” She gave him the name of her hotel and her room number.

  “ It has been a great pleasure meeting you, Miss Harris. I look forward to presenting your inheritance to you. I’m sure you will be surprised and delighted.”

  ***

  Manda drove back to her hotel in a daze. It was going to take some time to adjust to this development.

  After arriving at the hotel, Manda ordered a light lunch but found that she was too excited to eat much of it.

  She decided that an afternoon of shopping would distract her for a while. She had lived all of her life on the shore of Lake Michigan on the northern border of Indiana where, more often than not, the breeze coming in from the lake in the summer and the wind in the winter was chilly or bitter cold, depending on the season. About the time Manda crossed the line between Kentucky into Tennessee, she had decided a new cooler wardrobe was high on her list of priorities. She had know it would get warmer the further south she traveled, of course, but the heat was heavy and oppressive. She hadn’t anticipated that particular difference in climate.

  Manda stood looking at her purchases spread out on the top of her bed. She had taken notice of the type of clothing other women in the mall had been wearing and had chosen her clothing accordingly. Natural fiber fabrics in light colors had seemed to be the preferred apparel for this climate. “Cotton rules,” she said aloud. She chose a casual but chic skirt and blouse from her small mix and match wardrobe to wear the next day and put the rest away. The shopping had distracted her for a while leaving her relaxed and tired….and starving. She recalled how little she had eaten all day, so a meal was the next item on her ‘to do’ list and the sooner the better, she thought, as she grabbed her purse and left for the hotel dining room.

  Chapter 9

  Detective Haworth sat at his desk reviewing what meager evidence there was. According to the coroner, she had died less than an hour after she had eaten. However, as the contents seemed to be nothing more than sweets, an actual time of day was difficult to establish on that fact alone.

  The temperature of her body when found didn’t help much because the exposure to night temperature, the constant breeze off the Gulf and the humidity probably hastened the cooling.

  Rigor mortis had probably been delayed due to the fact that she had bled out quickly. Her body was now in full rigor which meant that she had died at least nine hours earlier.

  Complete lividity was in evidence but it took less time for gravity to pull the remaining blood to the lowest body parts then for full rigor to be established.

  There were so many factors to consider when determining time of death…establishing time was certainly not an exact science. The ME, therefore, tentatively placed the death between 2:00 PM Sunday afternoon and 3:00 Am Monday morning.

  The extremely shaken young jogger, who had been interviewed and cleared as a suspect, had found her body at approximately 8:30 Monday morning.

  The initial blood work and stomach contents were, surprisingly, negative for any foreign substances so more in-depth tests were being run.

  Even though the quilt had been placed under the victim post mortem, there was no evidence at the scene, of the body having been moved temporarily in order to position the quilt beneath her. Apparently the perp had simply rolled her body side to side in order to place it beneath her. If that was the case, the killer should have been covered with blood, but there was no blood found except in the immediate area of her death. There were no depressions prints or smears on the victim’s person, bedding, grass, ground or blood soaked areas that indicated that the killer had stood or kneeled…no bloody handprints.

  In fact, The only footprints found in the entire crime scene area were those of the Jogger and they clearly ended 13 feet from her body.

  The scenario, as it now appeared, was simply impossible.

  Chapter 10

  Manda hurried excitedly to the lobby. She had been notified by the
desk that Mr. Lanier had arrived. What a day this was going to be!

  During her shopping trip the day before, on an impulse, she had purchased a journal to fill with her new experiences. She had spent the rest of the evening recording everything that had happened from the day she left her apartment to the present.

  Now, following a light lunch, Mr. Lanier was leisurely driving her to see her new property. Manda was so keyed up, she was breathless and could only sit and listen as Mr. Lanier presented local points of interest and explained the conception and birth of Gulf Shore.

  “ I have taken the liberty of procuring information that should be helpful to you,” gesturing toward a large manila envelope lying on the seat of the car. “ There are city and county maps, literature printed by the local chamber of commerce detailing just about everything you need to know about our small city. There is a phone directory, a list of medical facilities and physicians…I even subscribed to the local newspaper for you. I hope I didn’t overstep my boundaries, Miss Harris.”

  “Not at all. I’m sure it will be heavily used and abused by me before I’m acclimated to Gulf Shore. Thank you.”

  The car slowed as Mr. Lanier turned left onto a narrow lane and stopped before a stately closed and locked entrance gate.

  “ There is no one here to open the gate for us, so excuse me a for a moment while I do the honors.”

  Manda’s breathlessness returned as she took in the fact that she was sitting before a beautifully wrought entrance gate usually found only on estates. A tall brick wall extended from each side and continued further than she could see. The thought flashed through her mind that she had to be daydreaming….no way could this be real.

  The lawyer returned to the car after the elaborate gate swung open.

  “By the way, there is a list in the envelope of the names of the staff who worked here and how to contact them. Your great Aunt thought highly of them so that’s an excellent recommendation for them.”

  My God, a staff, thought Manda. Panic struck her as she realized that she was in way over her head. “I don’t have the slightest idea how to run an estate, Mr. Lanier. What am I going to do ?”

  “Don’t be concerned. Between your employees and myself, we will teach you everything you need to know. Just sit back and try to relax.”

  Easy to say.. impossible to do, thought Manda.

  As they followed the lane that wound through the grounds, Manda felt a sense of deja vu as she realized the lane was curving through huge stately trees on either side. The effect reminded her of the B&B where she had stayed in northern Tennessee.

  “ What kind of trees are these?”

  “ Live oaks, Miss Harris. They’re very common in the south and frequently used in this manner, especially at the old southern plantations. These are very old trees. By the way, this estate is named,” Live Oaks.” I admit the name isn’t very original but certainly fitting.

  “They are beautiful. They certainly make a statement, don’t they.”

  “ Indeed, they do.”

  The lane slowly began to widen, splitting into two lanes, which encircled an imposing courtyard then merged in front of the entrance to the main house. The courtyard was surrounded by a low evergreen hedge. Ivy, planted beneath the hedge, had been allowed to wander onto the inner perimeter of the courtyard providing a lovely contrast to the flagstones.

  “ I had no idea,” Manda said…to herself more than to Mr. Lanier.

  “Somewhat overwhelming, isn’t it,” he remarked.

  Rather than the white clapboard plantation style house to be expected in the south, the entire sprawling mansion was built of some sort of stone. As if reading her mind, Mr. Lanier began talking.

  “ The owner began building the house in 1855 out of hand hewn quarried stone from this state. The wings were added some 45 years later. Each wing was built primarily for guests and both have two bedrooms, a large parlor with fireplace, and a bath. The main house has a large kitchen, dining room, two parlors…one where visitors were entertained and a larger one for family, a combination library with study, four bedrooms, three baths, a nursery with an attached room for a nanny, several servant’s quarters, a ballroom and a conservatory. In the basement are a wine cellar and a root cellar. Behind the house is a detached kitchen. There is a carriage house and further out on the grounds, a groundskeeper’s cottage. There used to be a stable, but it burned about twenty five years ago.”

  Manda sat in a stupor staring at him; unable to comprehend what he was saying…her mind whirling as she tried to make sense of the words she had just heard.

  “ I can see you are in a state of shock, Miss Harris. Are you all right ? You have no color in your face. Would you prefer to wait until you’ve had a chance to adjust to your new circumstances before you tour the house and grounds?”

  “ Yes, please, Mr. Lanier. I can’t seem to focus my thinking right now.”

  “ I understand….it’s quite a surprise for you. If it’s all right and would be helpful to you, we can stop by my office and I’ll give you copies of the blueprints and platt of the property.”

  “ That would be nice. Then I’d like to go to my hotel, please.”

  “ Certainly, Miss Harris. I’ll have you there shortly.”

  ***

  Manda lay on her bed in the throes of a headache. The afternoon had just been too much for her. Why would anyone develop a bad headache after finding herself to be the owner of a vast estate? She should be jumping and squealing with delight….instead she was miserable and praying for the aspirin to take effect. Eventually the medicine eased her headache enough that her exhausted mind and body drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 11

  As the blanket of darkness settled over the softness of dusk, Gem stood transfixed by the sight of the majestic mansion that reared three stories tall in the center where the original house stood. The wings swept to each side of the main house angling slightly and gracefully toward the rear. The windows winked as the moonlight found the small imperfections in the old leaded glass.

  Gem loved to gaze at the heart of Live Oaks.

  Through the night it stood strong and protective. Through the day, the magnificent stone work of the house covered in areas with rich climbing foliage gave casual coolness, comfort and welcome.

  The breeze picked up and the leaves of the oaks began to rustle. From a distance, a thin keening sound began, sending a current of fear up Gem’s spine.

  “Please, not yet,” whispered Gem.” Please give me more time. I’ve worked so long and hard for you. I need a longer rest. Please !”

  The breeze began to lessen and the keening stopped. Gem turned and walked quickly away from the mansion, hoping that distance would bring a gift of more time…a longer respite from the tormentors.

  Chapter 12

  Gary impatiently grabbed the phone off it’s cradle. “Detective Haworth here.”

  “ Gary , this is Dennis. I got some more tox results back.“

  “Great ! What did you find?”

  “ Nothing…not a damn thing ! Her blood, so far, is completely normal ! ALL the specimen samples are clean of any foreign substances. Everything, so far, indicates that she was the healthiest body I’ve ever done an autopsy on.”

  “ That’s crazy, Dennis ! No one is going to sit there and let someone cut them without putting up a hell of a fight unless they’re out cold.”

  “What else can I say, man ? She’s as clean as the proverbial whistle !”

  “Go over her again. Maybe you missed a hit on the head or something.”

  “ Have faith in me, Gary. I did examine her again …her skin is as clear and clean as a newborn.”

  Chapter 13

  Manda woke feeling much better. The headache was gone and she was feeling more positive about her ability to focus on the extraordinary course of events. She ordered a continental breakfast to be brought to her room and then popped into her shower. Much better, she thought, sitting down to her breakfast, revi
talized by her shower. Her plan for today was to study the blueprints of Live Oaks, familiarize herself with the grounds via the platt, visit the courthouse for any additional information she could uncover and…make a list. Manda was a dedicated list maker. It was difficult to function well without one and she certainly wanted to bring efficiency to the table, so to speak. When she felt herself ready, she would make an appointment with Mr. Lanier for a full tour of the estate, etc.

  Ruminating over her breakfast, she thought she knew why she had been so frightened yesterday.

  She had grown up in a low to medium income suburb on the outskirts of a large industrial city whose smoke stacks spewed clouds of vile smelling ash, grit and smoke. The surfaces of everything within miles were always lightly coated with a film of dust and grit. The houses in her neighborhood looked pretty much the same and the families were living within the same financial status. Everyone had the basic necessities but nothing frivolous. There was no peer pressure experienced among the children. Most mothers were home because the cost of day care was prohibitive….. Dads worked. If the neighborhood children scraped a knee or cut themselves, he or she simply went to the nearest Mom for cleaning, comfort and Band-Aids. That Mom would call the child’s mom to report and reassure. Wherever the neighborhood children happened to be playing at lunchtime was usually where they would enjoy lunch. There was always a parent available to baby sit in emergencies….free of charge. There wasn’t a family with, children, in the neighborhood who had a good stand of grass in their back yards. Everyone’s back yard was automatically a playground.

  Mom’s borrowed sugar , etc., from each other and shared their baked goods and recipes. Parents offered other parents or children their shoulders to cry on and were also there to applaud the success of the others. If illness or tragedy struck, the neighborhood banded together to give solace, food, protection…whatever was needed by the stricken family. Manda’s neighborhood was the perfect place in which to grow. A giant family with a vast support system.

  Now, however, she wasn’t aided by any support system. She was alone. Her Dad had died some years ago from a work related accident. Her mother eventually remarried but now lived in the north west. Neither she nor Manda had the money to do any thing more than write letters and make an occasional phone call. Manda had no siblings. The only reason she was enjoying the services of this fine hotel was because Mr. Lanier had made all arrangements after reassuring her that money was no object. She had grown up in a great environment for support and encouragement but with no luxuries. Now she found herself an affluent property owner with her only support system being a man she had just met. Her resources had flip flopped. No wonder her new responsibilities frightened the hell out of her.