by H R Jones
They all ducked down. Ryan got out of the car and headed across the parking lot at a slow stroll. After looking over the premises, he sauntered up to the bar.
The three in the car could only make out snatches of conversation between Ryan and the bartender, not enough to get any information.
~ * ~
“What I can get you?”
“I’ll have a draft beer, any kind you have is okay.”
“Sure thing. Anything else?
“Not right now, thank you. It’s been a long day and I need to just relax. Maybe I’ll grab a bite to eat later.” Ryan sat at the bar acting as if he could use a nap.
“You’re not from around here?”
“Nope, I was visiting some friends and I’m headed back north.”
“Well,” Koko said, “I hope you don’t have much further to go.”
“I might find a place up the road a piece and pack it in for the night, unless you have rooms around here.”
“Nothing around here, just the campground cross the road. They will let you pull in there for the night. They have toilets.”
“Thanks, I just might do that.”
Across the bar from Ryan sat the blond lothario. He was looking over at him. Ryan determined he was a lot older than the blond ‘do’ and tanned skin made him appear from a distance. The man nodded at him, and Ryan raised his glass as an acknowledgement.
Ryan was finishing his beer and motioned to the bartender. “Say, I think I will have a bite to eat. You have sandwiches I can get here at the bar? Don’t much feel like dining, if you know what I mean.”
Koko handed him a menu. “We do anything you see here, any way you want.”
Perusing the menu, Ryan said, “I’d like the fried oyster sandwich and another beer.”
“I’ll get it right up for you.”
Ricky and Ryan were the only two at the bar.
Ricky called across to him, “You new around here?”
“Yes, well, to this area, at least.”
“Name is Ricky Sands. I’ve been in the area awhile. I sure like it here.”
“Ryan, my name is Ryan. Yes, it’s nice here. I need to get down this way more often. Where you from?”
“Originally up north, got tired of the weather and decided to head south. The further south I drove the more I liked it. I saw this place here, rented myself a little beach shack, and voila...I’m now a Floridian,” he indicated by spreading his arms wide, an even wider grin on his face.
“Well, it looks as if it agrees with you. You’ve gotten rid of the pasty look most northerners have from their long winters.”
“Yeah, man, I love walking the beaches and riding the surf down here, and, of course, checking out the hot chicks. What a way to live, huh?”
Koko came over and placed Ryan’s order before him. “Here mister, our cook, Juan, do great oyster fry.”
“Thanks.” Ryan dug into his hot sandwich. He felt just a little guilty eating while the three sitting in his car would probably have loved a nice, tall cold one and a bite to eat as well.
“Say,” Ricky began, “did I hear you say you need a place to stay? ‘Cause if you do, you could bunk down at my place for the night.”
Taking another bite to think how he’d respond to the offer he’d just received from the friendly stranger, he pointed to his mouth.
“Oh, yeah, hard to talk with your mouth full,” Ricky said with a laugh. “Hey, Koko, another beer.”
Ryan took his time, swallowed, and measured how he’d respond to the offer. “Gee, thanks for your offer buddy, but I’ve got to try to get a few more miles under my belt before I pack it in for the night. I appreciate the offer, though.”
“No problem.”
Ryan finished his sandwich, took another pull on his beer, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and called Koko over. “My check please. By the way, the sandwich was terrific. I’m going to remember this place and come back for another soon.”
Koko handed him the tab.
Ryan took out his wallet, noticing the big smile on Koko’s face, and paid his bill. Slipping his wallet back in his pant pocket as he left the bar stool, he waved to the blond man across the bar… “Later.”
“Sure, later, dude.”
~ * ~
Gretchen, Norm and Grutner saw Ryan heading back to the car and ducked down.
“Stay down ‘til I get out of here,” he whispered.
Once he was in the car he said, “You guys are good. I couldn’t see you. So were you able to hear any of the conversation?” he asked as he started up the car and pulled out into traffic.
“Not enough to be able to put anything together. Were you able to get anything out of him?”
“You can sit up now. I’m far enough up the road he won’t be able to see anything. Well, the most I got was he’d been down here for a quite a while, was from up north, and his name is Ricky Sands. Not sure that’s much help.”
“Well, it at least confirms he’s from up north and I’m still convinced it’s him. The more I looked at him, the more sure I became,” Grutner opined. “Ricky Sands, Rory Star… if it is our guy, he didn’t use much imagination for an alias.”
“Let’s get back to the office and figure a way to flush this guy out in the open and nab him. Sheriff Pines might just have to go out there and make some discreet inquiries of Koko, the bartender. After seeing those two have a bit of a set-to, it could mean he has some information about this Ricky Sands he’d be willing to share.”
“Ricky Sands, Rory Star, hmmm, it has to be him, it has to be! It’s just too coincidental,” Gretchen mumbled.
Thirty-nine
Sheriff Pines decided—between what Ryan learned and observed while at the White Shutters, along with John’s confirmation, and with Gretchen’s assurance—it sure looked as if it was their man, Rory Star. He felt confident there was enough information to go on to continue their investigation. It was time he did some of his own detective work. He invited John to tag along, in some sort of disguise of course, to see what else they might be able to discover.
John was more than ready to help to finally put an end to his quest to bring Rory Star to justice. He’d waited and agonized for too many years. He hoped it was indeed Rory. If it was, he was not about to lose him, or let him escape justice again. He prayed they were right, and he’d finally have Rory Star in custody at last. He couldn’t wait to cuff him, and bring the bastard in.
It was too bad Wisconsin didn’t have the death penalty. With the number of bodies they’d found thus far, he was certainly a candidate for the gas chamber. It was too bad none of the murders had taken place in Florida, since it was a death penalty state.
~ * ~
“We will have to do some sort of hasty transformation, John, to get you out there, so you have the opportunity to really take a good look at him. How long has it been since he’s seen you?”
“I was trying to remember, Stu. I’d guess about ten years, give or take a few.”
“So when you got a little bit of a look at him, what did you think?”
“Well from my vantage point, it sure as the devil looked like Rory Star.”
“All right, you and me better get out there and see what else we can learn from this Koko. First, we need to give you a different look. Let me see what I have at home. Meantime, go back to the motel, get a good night’s sleep and I’ll pick you up about ten in the morning.”
~ * ~
Sheriff Pines knocked on Grutner’s door at ten sharp.
“Well, John, here are some things I hope will work as a disguise. Not sure it’s a look you’ll want to keep after today, though.” He laughed as he brought the makings for John’s transformation out of a brown paper bag.
“Holy cow! Do you really think this will work?” he said as he pulled out a skull cap with black fringe-like hair, oversized sunglasses, a wild Hawaiian shirt, flip flops and shorts. Oh, and of course, a panama hat. “I’ll run in and get this stuff on and see what you thi
nk, Stu.”
When John came out of the bathroom, he was laughing so hard he had tears rolling down his cheeks.
Pines, in spite of himself, was laughing, too. “I don’t know, John, but it’ll be worth a try. Say, I have an idea. Call Gretchen and Norm down here and see what they say.”
John called their room, “Say, Gretchen,” he had all he could do to keep from laughing, “could you and Norm come down to my room for a few minutes? Sheriff Pines is here and wants to discuss our tactics for nabbing Star.”
He hung up, saying, “They’ll be right down.” He’d no sooner got those words out of his mouth when there was a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it, John, you stand back in the shadows over there.” He opened the door saying, “Well, good morning, folks, hope you had a good night. We have a lot to do today.”
As they became adjusted to the light, Gretchen looked around the room. “Who the hell is that in the corner over there, and where’s Lieutenant Grutner?”
John slowly stood and walked toward Gretchen and Norm.
“Why, Gretchen, after all these years and you don’t recognize me? Who do you think I look like?” he asked.
“Oh, my God… John? Why, I never. Is it really you?”
“Pines here, says it’s me. I’m not even sure it’s me.” He laughed. “So what do you think? Will I trip Star up in this get-up?”
“Well, if you can fool me, you certainly should be able to fool him. Why, I never.” She began to laugh. “If you can fool me, someone who’s known you for so many years, you surely shouldn’t have a problem pulling a fast one on the likes of Rory Star. Oh, my God! Just can’t get over how different you look. I have to get a picture of this. No one back home will ever believe it’s you.”
The sheriff explained how the operation would go.
“Ryan will go on down to the White Shutters first, alone. I’m going to have another of my officers, armed, but in plain clothes as well, take John over there. They’ll sit around the bar area without acknowledging Ryan. The three will wait to see if there’s any sign of Mr. Star. As soon as John here, makes him, he’ll tip his hat and wipe his brow. That will be the signal it’s Star.
Now, should he make your lieutenant, or start to act squirrely, we’ll have to back off and see what Rory Star/Ricky Sands’ next move will be. That’s when Ryan will take over, to follow him on foot and keep him in sight. Since Ryan will be covering our suspect, I’ll have a deputy with John. We don’t want to crowd this guy.
“If he makes a run for it, I have deputies waiting a couple miles down the road in both directions. I’ll be waiting to chase him down and the others will follow. Okay?”
“What if he’s armed, Sheriff Pines?” Gretchen worried.
“My hunch is he’s not. I think this is a man, from what I’ve learned from your lieutenant, who does his dirty deeds up close and personal. His hands are his weapons. Like the snake he is, commits his crimes in private. Well now, let’s get you and Deputy Brian Manning acquainted, John.”
Pines picked up the phone, asking for an outside line and called his deputy to meet him at the office.
“Okay, folks, you hang tight and we’ll see how this all plays out.”
Forty
It was close to noon when Ryan sauntered across the sand wearing a tee-shirt and bathing suit, an oversized pair of sunglasses, a straw hat on his head, carrying a towel and beach umbrella. He didn’t want Koko to see him, in case he would recognize him from the previous evening.
He motioned to the scantily clad waitress, ordered a non-alcoholic, tropical drink, plunked his straw hat in such a way as to partially shade his eyes, but could still see, and leaned back. The waitress returned with his drink order. He took a long pull on the straw of the cool fruity concoction. Between the hat and sunglasses, no one would be able to see his eyes as they scanned back and forth between the beach and the bar area. His positioning was such he could catch any movement coming from the trailer camp, a few hundred feet down and across the highway, also a good panoramic view of the bar and its surroundings.
Grutner and Deputy Manning pulled into the parking lot in Manning’s unmarked car, and made their way to the bar.
Ryan saw them arrive.
Koko was busy washing and drying glasses, getting setups ready for the afternoon crowd.
“Hey, can a couple of old beach bums get a tall cold one?” Lieutenant Grutner asked.
“Sure. Koko get you something to drink real fast. What you like?”
“Well, I’m going to start out slow, so maybe an iced tea for now, and something for my friend, Brian, here.” He nodded to Brian.
“Yeah, I’ll have the same. Too thirsty for anything stronger. If it’s all right, we’ll take it over there on the veranda.”
“Okey-dokey, Koko will fix you up.”
As Koko made their drinks, Grutner and Manning made their way to the veranda, sitting at a rattan table away from the ears of Koko and any other patrons who might wander in. They had a very good overview of the bar and the area surrounding the White Shutters. They had no problem identifying Ryan, in his wild, overdone, beach boy look. He signaled to let them know he knew they were there.
They’d been there close to two hours when Manning got up and made his way to the men’s room.
Ryan took this to mean Manning wanted to have a quick chat. So he shuffled his way through the sand to the White Shutter’s restroom as well. As he suspected, Manning was waiting.
“What do you think, Ryan? Should we wait a bit longer, or have we been made?”
“I don’t know,” he said, taking his hat off, wiping the sweat away from his eyes with the back of his hand. “I don’t think so. Let’s give this another hour or so, whatta’ya say?”
“Yeah, okay, another hour. We’ll order some food or something so we don’t look like we’re loitering, or worse. I’ll head back so our barkeep doesn’t put two and two together.” He laughed, patting Ryan on the back as he headed to the veranda.
A few minutes later, Ryan returned to his beach chair.
“What’da ya’ think, shall we order something to eat?” Manning asked.
“Good idea, Brian. I could use a little nourishment. Didn’t realize till you mentioned food, I was a little hungry.”
Manning motioned Koko over.
“What can Koko do for you?”
“We’d like to see a menu.”
“Sure thing, I be right back.” He scurried away, returning quickly with two menus.
After a brief look at what was available, Manning said, “I’ll have the Shutter Burger and fries, and another one of these,” he said, holding up his iced tea.
“Yeah, that does sound good. I’ll have the same.”
“Koko get right away.”
They glanced over at Ryan… he lifted his hat and ran his fingers through his hair.
“How long do you think we need to wait here, Manning?”
“I think if we’ve no sign of him by the time we’ve finished eating, we should shove off.”
Their food arrived and they both dug in as if they hadn’t eaten in a while.
~ * ~
“Well, I’m going to hit the head and then maybe we should go.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right, John.”
When Ryan saw John go to the rest rooms, he sauntered in the same direction and made his way to the pay phones next to the lavatories. He had only a quick window of opportunity to give him a message. He picked up the phone and acted as if he were placing a call. As soon as John exited the restroom, Ryan motioned to him.
John quickly picked up on Ryan’s gesture, and moved toward the bank of phones, picking up a receiver as well. Turning away from Ryan, as if for privacy, he heard him say, “I’m going to stick around here a little longer. I know you two have to leave. If anything comes up, I’ll call Sheriff Pines.”
John hung up the receiver, whispered thanks, and headed back to the veranda. He relayed the info he’d received from Ryan an
d the two left.
Forty-one
Late that afternoon, Gretchen’s phone rang. She hurried to pick it up, fumbling the receiver as she did so, nearly dropping it in her haste.
“Hello,” she said.
“Gretchen, it’s Lieutenant Grutner. I just had word from Sheriff Pines. They think Rory is on the move. Pines is picking me up. In fact, I see him pulling into the motel lot now. I hope we get the rat, and have him behind bars before the day is over. There are a lot of skeletons on his property line he needs to answer for. I’ll tell you more later. Gotta go.”
“Oh, I hope you get that bastard. Anything we can do?”
“Just pray we get him.”
~ * ~
Grutner had just hung up when Pines pulled the police cruiser up to his motel room door. Grabbing his room key, he raced outside.
“What’s happened?” he asked, scrambling into the front seat of the cruiser which was already in motion.
“Apparently, after you and Manning left, Ryan noticed Sands moving very quickly and purposefully down the beach, away from the White Shutters. Ryan, trying not to be conspicuous, sauntered along the waterline, hat pulled over his head and aviator glasses on, and pretended he was just another beach bum out for a stroll. He wanted to see where Sands was headed. Ryan stayed some distance from the guy, watching which direction he went. He said it seemed like he’d just taken his eyes off him for a few seconds, and he vanished. The only thing Ryan could see from his vantage point was what looked to be a lot of scrub and brush. He surmised Sands must have gone into that and just disappeared in it. He didn’t want to follow him any further in case he would run into him.
“So Ryan took off his shirt and put it over his face and laid back in the sand, as if he were taking in some rays, hoping Sands would come back his way. The guy we think is Ricky/Rory was out of sight for nearly a half hour, he said, when Ryan, peeking out from under his shirt, caught sight of him heading back up the beach. He stayed motionless, pretending to snore as Ricky passed. He said he didn’t think Sands even noticed him. Ryan waited a few minutes, then headed back up the beach.