“About two months ago. We worked on the deal ever since then in absolute secrecy. And finally closed it. All the docs were signed, sealed, and delivered. Money already wired out and ownership transferred. So McClellan really owns the whole town now.” He paused and looked embarrassed. “I mean he did.”
“So now his son will own the town?” said Jamison.
“I’m not privy to that information. I know Mr. McClellan’s CFO quite well, though, and he never mentioned that the father had cut the son out, so I assume that Shane will inherit.”
“He doesn’t seem to care that much about business,” noted Decker.
“I know that’s the general rule of thought around here. But can I give you my opinion?”
“Please do.”
“I’ve known Shane since he was a little boy. He adored his mother and she loved him, but Stuart was totally wrapped up in business. He showed very little affection to either of them.”
“Go on,” prompted Decker.
“Shane was very popular in high school. Very athletic.”
“He said he and Joe Kelly made a potent QB-receiver combo.” Crutchfield smiled warmly. “That’s right. They were always together, those three, including Caroline, I mean. In fact, Joe was the Homecoming King and Caroline was the Homecoming Queen at junior prom. And then senior year it was Caroline and Shane as Queen and King.”
“We didn’t know that,” said Decker.
“But then they graduated. Caroline went to college and Shane went off to war. Joe joined the police force. Then Shane came home. His mother had died. He joined the business, reluctantly, I think. His father never gave him any praise, never an ounce of encouragement. Just the opposite, in fact. But—and this is based on what my CFO friend at McClellan’s told me—Shane is actually very smart and detail oriented. I think you would have to be to survive a war. He actually did good work. And now with his father off his back, I think he will run the company very well. That’s my two cents, anyway.”
“And it was a very helpful two cents,” said Decker. “One more question: Did Caroline know that her father was selling out?”
Crutchfield’s expression changed. “That isn’t an easy question to answer.”
“Just whatever you can tell us.”
“Over the last year or so I’ve sensed some uneasiness between the two of them. Nothing too serious. But Mr. Dawson came to me one day and said he believed that Caroline was growing weary of London. That’s when he began reaching out to McClellan’s camp.”
“Did he say why he felt that way?” asked Decker.
“No. And I didn’t press him on it. That was his own business, not mine. The deal went rather quickly after that.”
“Maddie’s Restaurant?” said Decker. “A tribute to her mother?”
“Yes. She and her mother were very close. Do you know about Junior Dawson?”
Jamison said, “We know he killed himself.”
“Yes, years ago, after coming out as gay to his parents.” He shook his head sadly. “It was very tragic.”
“His father didn’t care for that ‘alternative’ lifestyle, I guess,” said Jamison.
“Caroline loved her brother but had a real problem with her father because of the way he treated Junior, especially in public. And Maddie felt the same as Caroline. It drove a wedge between him and his wife, for sure. In fact, if she hadn’t died in that tragic accident, I’m not sure they would still be together.”
“But they were moving to France at the time,” said Decker.
“Yes, well, all I can say is that wherever they went, I’m not sure they would have stayed together.”
“Did you ever notice that Stuart McClellan might have been infatuated with Maddie Dawson?” asked Decker.
“Stuart? Well, I didn’t know him all that well. But my take on that man was that the only person he was infatuated with was himself.”
They left Crutchfield’s office and headed back to the SUV. Along the way, Decker said quietly, “You know, Alex, sometimes the cases that seem the most complex are the most simple.”
“I would never call this case simple.”
“Oh, but it is, very simple. We were the ones making it complicated. But we had help there, from some unusual sources.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning we got played big-time. Now it’s our turn.”
LATER, DECKER AND JAMISON walked into Joe Kelly’s office at the police station.
He looked at them. “Where have you two been lately? I’ve had some thoughts on Ben Purdy and where he might be.”
“Forget about Purdy,” said Decker. “We need a search warrant and we need it now.”
“For who and what?”
Decker told him and Kelly’s eyes widened at the answer. “Can you tell me why?” he asked.
“I can tell you enough to get the judge to issue the warrant. For the rest, I’d much prefer to show you.”
Later that evening, with a warrant in hand, they drove over to a large, well-kept house on the periphery of downtown London and knocked on the door.
“The car isn’t in the driveway,” said Decker.
“She may not be home,” said Kelly.
“Well, the warrant allows us to enter,” said Jamison.
Decker picked the front door lock and they went inside.
He didn’t head for the bedrooms upstairs. Instead he made a beeline for the laundry room. Hanging there on a peg was a bag marked “dry cleaning.”
He rummaged through it and pulled out the slacks and blouse. “We’re very lucky they haven’t been cleaned yet.”
Later, from a closet shelf, he snagged a pair of pumps off a shelf and checked the size. He nodded to himself.
Kelly said, “Now can you tell me what this is about?”
“As soon as we get these clothes analyzed, you’ll know about as much as me.”
* * *
Late that night Decker sat in the SUV in downtown London with Jamison in the passenger seat.
Jamison was shaking her head in disbelief. “It’s still mind-boggling,” she said.
He glanced at her. “You ready to do this?”
She touched her Glock. “Ready.”
The drive out took about an hour. They stopped well short of the property and made the rest of their way on foot. There was one vehicle parked out front. They recognized it. Decker went over to the car and looked at the tires, then hit the treads with his light.
“What are you looking for?” asked Jamison.
“Exactly what I found.”
The one-story farmhouse was old and badly in need of repair, but it was isolated, without another house in sight.
With Decker leading, they made their way to the barn first. The doors were unlocked. They stepped through and looked around with the aid of Decker’s tac light. Flies and mosquitoes were buzzing around, and they had to continually swat them away.
They finally spotted a door set against one wall that had an open padlock on it.
They stepped through and looked around at the straw floor.
Jamison swiped at her face where bugs were swirling. “Yuck. I think I swallowed one.”
Decker seemed unbothered by the insects. He knelt down and ran his light over the straw on the floor. “Looks like some blood there. We can get it checked later.”
“You think this was where Irene Cramer’s body was kept?”
“It would allow bugs in but no animals, so it’s a safe bet. And there would be no one around to hear her scream.”
“That’s certainly true,” said Jamison.
They searched another outbuilding that was behind the barn. Inside was a vehicle covered by a tarp. When Decker lifted it, a small Honda was revealed. “It must be Irene Cramer’s car,” said Jamison.
Before Decker could respond they heard the car approaching. As they watched from out of sight, the yellow Porsche SUV pulled up to the front of the farmhouse. Caroline Dawson got out and walked up to the door and into the farmhouse.
> “Okay, that’s an unexpected development,” said Decker.
“So what do we do?”
“We go and do what we came here to do.”
Decker and Jamison crept up to the front door, and Decker whipped it open.
Standing in the front room were Caroline and Liz Southern.
“What the hell?” exclaimed Southern. “What are you doing here?”
Dawson turned around and looked at them blankly.
Decker noted the suitcase on the floor next to Southern.
“Going somewhere?”
Dawson said, “We’re going to Canada for a few days.”
“Just a few days?” said Decker, looking at Southern.
“Yes, Liz thought it would be a good idea to get away.”
“We know about you and Liz,” said Jamison.
Dawson looked taken aback. “What are you talking about. We’re just—”
Southern interjected, “What we are is none of your business. And what are you doing here?”
Decker pointed his gun at them. “We came for the truth, Liz. I think it’s time.”
SOUTHERN PLACED HERSELF between Dawson and Decker. “You can’t come in here and threaten us. I’m calling the police.”
“Not to worry, I already called them” was Decker’s surprising reply.
A moment later there was a noise from outside. “And there they are. Keep them covered,” Decker said to Jamison.
He went to the door and opened it. “Come on in.”
A few moments later Joe Kelly walked through the doorway. He looked at Decker questioningly. “Why’d you want me to come out here?” But when he saw Southern and Dawson, he said, “I saw the Porsche outside. What is going on?”
Decker said, “I thought you’d like to be in on the end of this case.”
Kelly looked even more confused. “What do they have to do with any of it?”
“You mean what does she have to do with it. Well, for starters, Liz killed Maddie Dawson and Alice Pritchard.”
Kelly exclaimed, “What? No, that can’t be right. It was an accident.”
Southern snapped, “I had no cause to kill Maddie or Alice.”
“You love Caroline, and you didn’t want her to move to France. I don’t know how you managed it, but you did.”
Dawson cried out, “What the hell are you talking about?” She shot Southern a glance. “Liz, what is he talking about?”
“I wish I knew, Caroline. These allegations are ludicrous.”
“And, Caroline, with your mother gone, and your brother already dead, Liz only had your father to worry about. But then Liz had another problem.”
“What?” snapped Southern.
“Someone found out about your relationship with Caroline.”
“Your relationship?” said a shocked-looking Kelly.
Dawson shot Kelly a glance. “Yes, Joe. Liz and I have been together.”
Kelly gaped but said nothing.
“But your father didn’t know?” said Decker.
“It was none of his business. I did want to be open about my sexuality, but Liz thought we should keep it secret.”
“But you said someone found out. Who?” asked Kelly.
“Irene Cramer,” replied Decker.
“What are you talking about? How?” said Kelly, his gaze holding on Dawson.
“Liz told me that she and Caroline would sometimes hook up in the apartment above the bar. She and Caroline would leave very late at night, after the bar had closed, and go out the rear entrance. I’m betting that Cramer—who kept late hours, as we know—saw them together. And Cramer lived for a while at Dawson Towers, where Caroline has a condo. Cramer probably saw them there, too.”
Jamison said, “And that might be the reason Cramer moved. Liz might have threatened her.”
Dawson glanced sharply at Southern. “That woman at the condo building who saw us together? That was Irene Cramer? She never told us her name.”
“Maybe it was, so what?” said Southern.
Dawson looked at Decker. “We were sharing a kiss in the doorway of my condo when, I guess, this Cramer person came by. She apologized for intruding. It was no big deal.” She looked at Southern again. “I mean, it was no big deal, Liz.”
“I don’t think Cramer had a problem with it. I think the problem was all Liz’s.”
“What do you mean?” said Dawson.
Decker continued. “Cramer had gotten a note that had disturbed her. That’s what Alex was referring to: a threat from Liz. She was planning to leave town. But before she could get away Cramer was abducted. And she was held out in the barn here. But she must’ve gotten free and found something incriminating and swallowed it.” He turned to Southern. “But you saw her do that because you knew you had to get it back.” He stopped and eyed both her and Dawson’s hands where sat the pinky rings he had seen on each of them before. However, he was seeing them for the first time together.
“Your rings are identical. You two exchanged them, right?”
Dawson rubbed at the ring. “Liz got them both. There are inscriptions inside each.”
“An inscription inside them that would identify you as being a couple?”
“Something like that,” said a perplexed Dawson, while Southern remained quiet.
“If so, Liz had to get that back. And performing an autopsy on Cramer would have been easy for you, Liz, since your hubby did it for a living, and you no doubt picked up a lot of the techniques and knowledge. You also told us you were a licensed mortician. You can embalm bodies.”
Dawson had taken a step away from Southern. “Liz, this is crazy. You couldn’t do anything like that.”
“You really cut her open?” said a disgusted Kelly.
Southern still said nothing. Her cool gaze remained on Decker.
“And you’re responsible for Walt’s death, too,” said Decker.
“He shot himself,” said Southern quietly. “We all know that.”
“I believe you were telling the truth about his stealing. But you found out a lot sooner than you told us you had. And you used that against him.”
“Then why didn’t he point the finger at me?” retorted Southern.
“Because he didn’t know it was you. All he got were anonymous letters. The threat of losing his business and going to prison was enough to get him to go along with the scheme. I doubt he ever suspected you of being involved in killing Cramer. And his note was entirely sincere. He did feel guilt and he did hate himself for what he’d done.”
“This is all speculation.”
“No, it’s not. Now, next up are Hal Parker and Pamela Ames.”
“Why would Liz do anything to them?” said Dawson.
“Irene Cramer was a tall woman, about a hundred and thirty pounds or so. She was found in the middle of nowhere. You couldn’t carry her all the way there, Liz. So you drove the body there. After you killed her you kept her in the barn to screw up the time of death, and then you dumped her in a place where you knew a wolf was prowling around. The animal would be attracted to a dead body by the scent. You might have been hoping that the wolf would get to the body and tear it apart, further hiding what you did to get back the object Cramer swallowed. But the body hadn’t been there all that long before Parker showed up. The condition of the body told us that. I guess you didn’t know he was even in the area. You didn’t figure on that complication. And in addition to finding the body, he found something else, didn’t he?”
“Tire tracks,” answered Jamison.
Decker nodded. “Ones he knew very well because, as you told us, he gave those tires to you in exchange for your doing his wife’s funeral service. The rain would have washed the tracks away, but not before Parker saw them. Did he threaten to expose you?”
Southern put her hands in her pockets and said nothing.
“And Pamela Ames?” asked Kelly.
“She knew Cramer from the Colony. It would make sense that she would ask Cramer for help when she left there. Hel
l, for all I know, Cramer might have encouraged her to leave. So if Cramer mentioned to Ames that she had seen Liz and Caroline in an intimate embrace? And then she turns up dead?” Decker turned to Caroline. “Ames needed money to get out of town. Did she try to get some from you?”
“No, she never contacted me.”
He turned to Southern. “How about you? Or was she going to go to the police with her suspicions? Either way, you had to get rid of her and Parker. I think the clothes you dressed her in came from your own closet. Your clothes size is the same as the ones found on Ames. And your shoe size, too. I checked.”
“Liz?” said Dawson nervously.
Decker said, “That only left Hugh Dawson.”
“What did my father have to do with anything? And why would Liz hurt him?”
“For the money, of course,” answered Jamison.
“The money?”
“Your inheritance,” said Decker. He looked at Southern. “You wanted Caroline and her fortune. But there was no way you were getting that if Hugh found out about you two. That’s why you wanted to keep it secret. You knew what happened to Junior. You needed Hugh gone. So you fed us a bullshit story about Stuart McClellan lusting after Maddie Dawson and your theory that he had killed her. And that her husband suspected and picked now to exact his revenge. The puffer fish toxin was a neat touch. If we check the records, I think it will show that you obtained it somehow. Once he ingested that, it would have been easy for you to drive him out to where he was found and set up the carbon monoxide death trap.”
“But why kill Stuart?” asked Kelly.
“To give a motive for Hugh to kill himself,” replied Decker.
“But what about his suicide note?” said Dawson. “People said it was his handwriting.”
“We had an expert examine it. It was forged. By Liz. She’d known Hugh a long time. She’s probably seen many examples of his handwriting.”
“You have no proof, Decker,” said Southern. “Not a shred of it. But I have proof, of being slandered by you.”
“Well, in addition to Cramer’s car in your outbuilding, here’s some evidence that will knock your socks off.”
He pulled an evidence pack from his jacket pocket. Inside was a blouse. “We got a warrant to search your house in town. We found this and your slacks in your dry cleaning bag. This is the blouse you wore to the hospital when you came to check on Caroline, the same day her father was killed. You really should have gotten it cleaned right away.”
Walk the Wire Page 36