Murder at the Canaveral Diner (A Florida Murder Mystery Novel)

by Jay Heavner

  “She was kind of young for that.” “She was, but it’s not unheard of. The worst news was yet to come. It had already advanced to Stage 4 and metastatic.” “How bad had it spread?” Roger asked.

  “It was bad. It was in her lymphatic system and throughout her body. Her only hope was chemo or radiation treatment, and her chances on that were less than one percent. In plain English, she was dying, and the cancer was spreading rapidly.”

  “How long did the doctors give her?” Pastor Phil said, “Three to six months at best, no more.”

  “Did she tell anyone?” “The only people who knew were her parents, her doctor, and me. She told no one else. Her plans were to work as long as she could at her job and quit when she could go on no more. When she talked with me, she was getting ready to quit soon and

  then she got murdered at the Canaveral Diner.”

  “So you’re telling me, she was already a dead woman. If the killer had waited a little while longer, nature would have taken her out,” Roger said. “That’s correct. She had a death sentence. She was a dead woman walking.”

  “Did Bill know this?” “No, she was going to tell him, but she found out about his tomcat ways, and their last time together ended in a big confrontation over that. The issue of cancer didn’t make it to the table that day.

  Pastor Phil, said, “I talked to her on several occasions during this time. She said the realization she was going to die very soon overwhelmed her, and it was Bill who took her wrath.”

  “Hell has no fury like a woman scorned,” Roger said.

  “Yes, she felt she and Bill had something special and when she found out he was playing the field while they were together, she lost it.” “Do you think Bill could have held it against her and killed her?” “I don’t, but I’m a former cop, and I know that when love and/or alcohols involved anything’s possible. Still, my bet would be on someone else but Bill, for what my opinion is worth.”

  Roger studied the pastor’s face. It showed no guile. “She told you all this?” “She did. She knew she was dying, and she remembered what she’d heard in this little church about God in Heaven, Jesus, and salvation. She thought she’d live life to the fullest or what the world calls the fullest, and then do the Jesus thing, her words, not mine, later in life. When Death stared her in the face, she did some real soul-searching, saw what she needed to do all along, and gave her life to the Lord. She said He was welcome to all she had left. She laughed at that. She didn’t have much left, but it was all she had, and she wanted to give it all to Him and live for Him in the fullest. Sounded to her like she was getting the better part of the deal by far. She did, but it ended even before it should have.”

  “Our killer killed a dead woman,” Roger said flatly. “He did, but her spirit was alive inside, and now she lives with Him forever. That’s the silver lining in this cloud. Her death was not the end of the story.”

  Roger said, “I know about death and where you’re going with that. Is there anything more you can tell me that will help me find her killer?” “My bet would be on the ex.”

  “There’s a motive, but no proof,” Roger said.

  “You asked my opinion, and you got it. Hope something in what I’ve told will help you find her killer, bring justice here on earth.” “I hope it does.” Roger repeated, “I hope it does,” with more force the second time.

  “Good. Now the big question.” “Go ahead, Pastor.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  CHAPTER 23

  Roger said, “I hoped there’d be some info that would help me on this case. You never know when one little thread will lead you to an entire coat factory. I think you’ve given me another missing piece to the puzzle. I just need to figure how it fits in the whole picture. But I believe there’s more to that question, isn’t there?”

  The pastor smiled and nodded.

  “Did Bill tell you more than you’re saying, Pastor?”

  “Not really. Sometimes ole Bill’s a real talker. He’s got a gift for gab.”

  Roger rolled his eyes. “Tell me about it.” His voice was a mixture of irony and sarcasm.

  “I see you two are more than acquainted.” Roger said, “Correct. We grew up together in West Virginia. After Bill left for Florida to live with his dad when his mom died, I hadn’t seen him until recently. He got me involved with what became known as the Windover Case. Like to got me killed, but the strange thing was it made me feel alive again.”

  “I’ve heard of it. It involved Stiltsville getting blown up and burned to the ground, didn’t it? How did it make you feel alive, Roger?”

  “I had a purpose. Even though it nearly killed me, I had a reason to live.” Pastor Nassey nodded, “Yes. People have asked the question throughout the ages, Why am I here? What’s my reason for being? We all need purpose and routine in our lives. What’s your purpose and routine like?”

  “Can’t say I’ve got much of either. I empty bottles containing alcohol while feeling sorry for myself. Don’t think’s that really why I’m here. How’s that for an honest appraisal?”

  “A little more honest than I’m used to, Roger. With a lot of people, you have to drag it out of them if they’ll admit to it at all. I like an honest man.”

  “I’m feeling rather lonely too. Since my wife and son died, it’s not been easy.”

  “The sorrow of losing those important to us can be overwhelming.” “Tell me about it, Pastor. Before I met my wife, I was never lonely. I had a good job and lots to keep me busy. My life was involved in my own pleasures. I enjoyed being a big man on campus. There were lots of good times, parties, adventures, and women to keep me busy. Seemed like I lost everything I valued all at once.”

  The pastor said, “Loneliness is a terrible thing. Death, divorce, loss of purpose, betrayal, rejection will do it. Loneliness is no respecter of persons. Even our Savior knew it. The Bible tells us, ‘He is despised and rejected by men.’ Adam and Eve knew it when they sinned. When God asked, ‘Adam, where are you?’ God knew where Adam was, but did Adam know where he was? The Samaritan woman at the well drawing water who met Jesus sure knew about loneliness. Her choice of lifestyle caused her to be an outcast. The apostle Paul sure had reason for despair.

  He was stoned, shipwrecked, and nearly beaten to death more than once, yet he endured the hardships of life because he knew in God’s economy the best was yet to come. I don’t understand why people have to go down in the valley before they can scale the heights, but you have to come to the end of ‘self’ before you begin to live. The happiest day of my life was when I realized I couldn’t make it on my own ability. My mourning was turned to joy, and my sighing became singing.

  Happy are they that mourn for the inadequacy of self for they shall be comforted by the endless sufficiency of the Lord.

  “There was a woman who used to attend here. She moved to Melbourne, so I haven’t heard from her in a while. Anyway, she went through a bitter divorce, and their young daughter ended up in a local children’s home. The girl felt abandoned and oh, so lonely. Her mom only came once a month, and she rarely saw her father. It was years later the girl found out the home only allowed one visit a month, but her mother came every day and stood at the fence hoping to catch a glimpse of her child.

  God’s like that, always there watching even when we can’t see or feel His presence. God’s active in your life, Roger, whether you know it or not.” The pastor stopped. “Tell me, how do you see yourself? What’s your greatest asset?”

  “Pastor, I like to think of myself as a thinker. I’ve seen so many people swallow everything that comes down the pike and literally gets swept away in a flood of stupid.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “It was one of the things that’s so helpful in forensic work, the ability to see through all the garbage messing up the scene. But it can get you in trouble. Can you believe I was removed from my college teaching position because I was teaching the students to think for themselves?” Roger said.
r />   “I can. Thinking is dangerous to those who want their perception to be viewed as reality.”

  “I was always good at ferreting out fact, but it was my late wife who opened my eyes to so many things.”

  Pastor asked, “Would you care to tell me about it?” “How long have you got?”

  “I was working on Sunday’s sermon, but it can wait. Please go on.” Roger said. “I had my professor job at Western Maryland University. Like I said, I thought I had it all. You know, big man, big title, and lots of girlfriends that come with it. I met Kay at a football game mixer sponsored by a Christian group on campus she was affiliated with. Surprisingly, the two of us hit it off and really enjoyed each other’s company. She knew about my reputation with women and told me if I tried anything funny, it was over. I never had a woman talk like that to me before, and it was somewhat of a shock in this day and age, but I respected her for being so honest and candid. She had great faith and lived it. I watched and learned much from her.

  “We’d been together for some time, and it was going fine. After a trip to France involving my work, she fixed a big dinner for just the two of us, you know, candlelight and fine china. I brought a bottle of wine back, and there were two things I didn’t know. One, she had a weakness for wine and two, this was no ordinary wine. It was more like sherry. The alcohol content was almost 20%. We woke up the next morning in bed together. She told me not to expect any more nights like that, and I knew she was telling me the truth.

  “All went fine. Two months later, she tells me she’s pregnant. Even though the circumstances were less than ideal, I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. Her mom was concerned about this unequally yoked Bible teaching, but there’s another about a husband being justified by a believing wife, so that’s how we started.”

  “Yes,” Pastor Nassey said. “I know what you’re referring to. It’s covered in the books of First and Second Corinthians. You seem to know some scripture.”

  “I went to a country church growing up. When I got to college, I put it behind me. Kay brought it all back in my life and challenged me to search for myself and make up my own mind. I liked that about her. She was my rock when the college was unfairly trying to get rid of me. I eventually left. The whole situation had created a big headache for them. The alumni weren’t happy, and word got to the press on how I was being railroaded. The administration offered a large settlement if I would go away. I was going to fight it, but then Kay and our son were killed. It knocked the wind right outta me, and I took it and left the area hoping to put the pain behind me and start over.”

  “How’s that going, Roger?”

  “Not very well. I’ve spent my time drunk and depressed. I wish it had been me that died, not them. I wasn’t there when they needed me most.” Tears formed in Roger’s eyes and one flowed down his face. He looked at the Pastor. “Bet you must think I’m a real loser.”

  “No. What I see before me is a hurting man, a man who has endured a lot of pain. A man trying to cope as best he can.” Roger looked past the pastor and said, “We’re all travelers in this world, from birth to death, we travel between eternities.” The pastor’s face tightened, “What an incredibly powerful statement. What great philosopher wrote that?”

  “Don’t know. It was a line of graffiti on a concrete retaining wall on my old campus where I taught. Yeah, it’s powerful. That’s why it stuck with me all these years.”

  “A sentence like that could carry an entire book or movie. Mind if I borrow it and use it in a sermon?” the pastor said.

  “Nope. It left an impression on me. You know, the last time I talked this much about something like this was with a local rabbi.” “Wouldn’t have been Rabbi Katz over on Merritt Island would it?” “It was,” Roger said.

  “He’s a good man. We disagreed on some things, but he’s the kind of guy you would trust to guard your back in a foxhole.” Roger said, “I had that same feeling about him. He seems to be a very caring guy.”

  “He is. Funny you should mention him. I had lunch with him at Umpa’s recently.”

  “Bet it was bacon and eggs.” The Pastor laughed. “Eggs, but no bacon or sausage for him. He does try to keep some resemblance of kosher I believe.” “Do you understand kosher?”

  “No Roger, I don’t. And I’ve asked him in the past to explain how they fig - ure what’s kosher and what not. He looked at me surprised and perplexed and said that the leading rabbis are not in agreement on this so I shouldn’t worry my little Gentile brain trying to figure out what they can’t.” He paused. “I almost forgot. He mentioned your name and something about something called ODESSA. Does that ring a bell?’

  “Yes, ODESSA’s an organization that officially doesn’t and never has ex - isted, but many believe has and does exist. They supposedly were responsible for getting many of the high ranking Nazi officials out of Germany after World War II and are trying to quietly recreate a new Third Reich. Did he say anything else?”

  “He seemed alarmed at the news he had, but didn’t elaborate on it further.”

  Roger said, “I may need to talk to the good rabbi.” He stopped. “I’ve taken up too much of your time. I should be going.” The pastor said, “I can make time. I have a few more questions.” “Okay, but it’s now on you if you’re late for something important.”

  “That’s an easy cross to bear, Roger. My first question is about your spiri- tual life. How is it? How can I help?” “I should have known.”

  “I’m a preacher. What did you expect?”

  “I know. Preachers got to preach, laborers got to labor, carburetors got to carb, and pistons got to…” Pastor Nassey said, “Do what they’re supposed to do. I know that old Pete Seegar tune. He was one of the founders of a group called the Weavers. He wrote lots of songs.”

  “Yeah, he did. ‘If I had a Hammer; Turn, Turn, Turn!’ and others.” “Don’t forget, ‘Where Have all the Flowers Gone?’”

  The pastor said, “Like his singing, but don’t always agree with his politics. I saw him perform locally with Arlo Guthrie, Woody’s son. Arlo lives in Indian River County, the next county south of Brevard.”

  “Small world. Pastor, you asked a very personal question, and I’ll answer you. My wife was the believer. Me, I’m a seeker. I seek for truth and understanding. I learned so much about faith and Christianity from my wife and her church we attended. I’m open to hearing both sides. Some told me I should curse this God who did this to my family, but I can’t buy that. This world is full of evil. The human race is capable of doing great things and great self-sacrifice, but it can also do things so wicked it’s almost unbelievable.”

  Pastor Phil said, “I’ve seen it first hand as a pastor and cop and service - man. You live in Canaveral Flats, right? Have you met Rusty Bentley who lives there?”

  “Can’t say I have,” Roger said.

  “He’s an ex-Marine who turned missionary, and he worked in some of the worst hot spots in the world doing what he could to help local people, some Christian, protect themselves from government-sponsored marauders, terrorists bent on rape, enslavement of women and children, and killing.”

  “Pastor, I don’t think there’s such a thing as an ex-Marine. I do believe Bill may have mentioned him once.” “Good point. I believe he’d be a good person for you to meet.” Roger said, “I believe so too. Tell me, are there any normal people living in Canaveral Flats? It sure seems to have its collection of interesting and colorful characters.”

  “You’re the first normal one.”

  Roger laughed, “Then they better keep on looking if anyone thinks I’m normal.”

  Pastor Phil laughed. “Now, that’s funny. I’m goin’ to have to get busy. Can I say one last thing before you go?”

  “Sure, Pastor.” “Stop in when you can. Let me know how things are going. I hope you find the killer and lastly if you need to talk on spiritual issues or others, my door’s always open. I know you know John 3:16.”

  Roger said, “Doesn’t everyb
ody? Here’s my take on it. God sent His Son into the world to save mankind, each and every man and woman willing to become His children and followers.”

  “That’s the picture. You’d be surprised the Biblical ignorance creeping into this nation. John 3:17 continues on with that same thought and hope. Jesus gives us hope to carry on in this messed up world.”

  “Thank you, Pastor, for your time, advice, and information. By the way, what do you think of dreams?”

  “Why do you ask?” “Pastor, sometimes I feel a presence, and it gives me comfort. I like to think it’s my wife, but it could be God, or both. I had another happen last night, not sure what it was. Something I can’t explain. The best description I can come up would be to call it a dream. I think I saw a glimpse of Heaven. I saw a misty place, and as I watched, a huge library full of books going on endlessly appeared. I saw a person standing, and as I was drawn closer, I saw it was my late wife. A young boy was behind her holding her leg. He was peaking around her. . I think it was my son, but her face was the only one I could see clearly. She had a book open in her hands. She looked at me, and she smiled. Then the vision faded away. What do you think of that? She loved books.”

  “Honestly, I don’t know, Roger.”

  “Most people have a hard time admitting they don’t know, Pastor.”

  He nodded. “Was it a vision of Heaven or just something your unconscious brain wanted and created? I’d like to think it was the first, and the room was where God keeps all the wisdom and knowledge in the universe available for His children. I think she was smiling because she could see you, and she was in a place where all the questions she had ever had could be answered. That’s what I think.”

  Roger said, “I’d like to believe that also. My heart felt like a heavy burden had been lifted when I woke, but it’s come back with time.”