by Owen Parr
“Listen to me,” I began, only to be interrupted by Marcy.
“We plan on having this case solved by tomorrow, maybe the next morning at the latest.”
“Oh, the super sleuth and his wife the special agent are about to solve six cold case murders in four days. Of course. Captain, we should take this guy in,” said Reed indignantly.
“Captain, I want you to release my husband to me. We will not leave the island. Give us two days to wrap this up.”
The captain thought for a minute, reached for his keys, and unlocked the cuffs.
I rubbed my wrists. “May I speak to you in private, sir?”
Reed was fuming and kicking a tire on the Jeep as we walked away. “Where did you find Bernard’s blood?” I asked.
“Underneath the back seat of the golf cart. It looks as if the body was placed there and the blood seeped down and under the seat. It wasn’t obvious because the cart was thoroughly cleaned recently.”
“I see. Of course, that could be from an old cut Bernard sustained before this.”
“In all honesty, it may not even be Bernard’s blood. It just happened to be the same—B positive.”
“So you were arresting me on circumstantial evidence.”
“Officer Reed made a compelling case. After all, you were the last to see Bernard alive.”
“Except for the killer.”
“I suppose.”
“I need to speak to the ME one more time. Can you call her?”
“Mancuso, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt because you come highly recommended. Plus, I don’t want the freaking FBI involved in this. Are you sure you can put this together in two more days?”
“I believe I can, sir. Can you dial Marie?”
Williams took out his cell phone, punched a number, spoke to Marie a second before handing me the phone.
“Hi Marie, I have a few more questions for you in this case.”
“No problem.”
“Which side of the head was Bernard struck?”
“On his left side. Why?”
“I’m trying to figure out if the person who struck him is right-handed or left-handed.”
“What do you think?”
“I’m guessing left-handed at the moment.”
“I can’t tell, not knowing where and how he was standing.”
“How was Bernard dressed when the body showed up at your place?”
“He was wearing blue jean overalls with the top undone and hanging down, a black tee shirt underneath, and brown boots. Plus underwear.”
“Was he wearing anything else? Or better yet, did he have anything on him?”
“You mean in his pockets? Oh wait, he was wearing a white cloth belt that you tie around your waist. It had pockets to put things in when you’re working.”
“Good, good. Was there anything in the pockets?”
“Yeah. He had a measuring tape, a small pocket knife, and nails.”
“How long are the nails?”
“Hang on a second. I have the evidence bag right here. Let’s see. They’re one-quarter of an inch long. Does that mean anything?”
“It does. Thanks, Marie.”
“Anything else?”
“We’re good,” I said, clicking off the call.
“What’s with the nails?” Williams asked.
“I’ll put it all together. I need more info my office is getting for me. Are you staying overnight?”
“I’m not going anywhere. I have to keep an eye on you.”
“Right. Let me ask you something. If you owned one of those boats with the big propeller on the back, where would you keep it?”
“You mean an airboat?”
“Yeah, an airboat.”
“If you have a trailer, you can keep it anywhere. I suppose at your home would be the best place.”
“I see. Is there a place on the island you could keep it, instead of your home?”
“The best place would be one of the two marinas where the locals keep their boats. You could launch it right into the water from there.”
“Did you get anything from INTERPOL on Tiunal?”
“No. Keep in mind, I sent it over yesterday, and with the time difference, they received it too late to work on it.”
“I see. Am I free to go?”
“Be back at home before sundown. I don’t want to send a posse after you,” he replied smiling.
“Oh no, I don’t want to miss the fried chicken, homemade coleslaw, and biscuits on the menu tonight. See you then. And, thank you, Captain.”
Officer Reed made a U-turn and sped out of the area, still pissed, I’m sure. Marcy and I got back in the golf cart. This time I was driving. The creepy lady’s towel would have to wait. I had two marinas to check out and another stop to make.
“Thank you,” Marcy said.
“For what?”
“No, I’m waiting for a thank you. Saved your ass back there.”
She was right, but I thought my argument also had an impact. But, why bring that up? In the short time I had been married, I learned that saying yes to your wife worked wonders. “Oh that, yes. You’re right. Thank you. You were very assertive. What would you have done if they had called your bluff?”
“No one wants the FBI involved. Where’re we headed?”
“Let’s have a picnic by the old cemetery. Beautiful shady oak trees there.”
“Very romantic.”
“You know, there’s a rum distillery on the island. Maybe we can visit before we go.”
“Like we have time for that.”
“Oh, we’ll see.”
“Did you noticed one of the things Officer Reed said?”
“Which one? The one in which he said there had been six unsolved murders? When only three, not including Bernard’s, are unsolved. The other two are missing persons.”
“So, you did hear that?”
“I did, and that’s was a fascinating statement. Was it a Freudian slip?”
“I’m moving him up on my list of potential killers. I think he made a mistake there.”
“It’s possible. Or, maybe he’s covering for someone else,” I said.
We drove for a bit, arriving at the Old Cemetery by Cooper River Landing Road. “I want to walk around the cemetery a second. You want to join me?”
“No thanks. I’ll drive under that oak tree and start fixing our picnic.”
“Bobby was telling me that oak tree is five hundred years old. The house next to it was the undertaker’s home. He married the midwife. So, the joke is that she brought them in, he took them out.”
“Very funny. What are you looking for?” Marcy asked from behind the wheel, with a roll of the eyes and a touch of sarcasm.
“I’ll know if I find it.”
After a few minutes, I walked back to the where Marcy was, sat next to her, and began eating my sandwich, avoiding revealing what I had found at all costs.
“What’s with the smirk? Did you find what you were looking for?”
“I think I did.”
“And, you’re not going to tell me?”
“I plan to lay everything out for all the parties involved tomorrow. Let me keep you in suspense. You’ll enjoy it more.”
“You’re planning one of your off-broadway plays?”
I smiled and took a drink of my orange soda. “Yup.”
“You should have been a playwright and producer.”
“Nah, I enjoy this more,” I replied, still smiling like the cat who ate the canary. “Move over while I drive to the marina. You can finish your lunch on the way.”
The first marina we stopped at revealed nothing. I got the directions to the second marina and found the airboat I was looking for. I pulled out my phone. “Captain, is the crime crew gone?”
“Yes. They left a while ago. Why?”
“Shit, I wanted to test for blood on an airboat I found.”
“Where are you?”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes. I�
��m back at the B&B. Getting ready to fix me a cocktail. It’s happy hour. Where are you?”
“I’m at a little marina by Governors Point.”
“I have a small kit in the trunk of. We can test for the existence of blood as long as it isn’t a very large surface. I can also check for prints.”
“In that case, come on over. What are you drinking?”
“Bourbon. What else would I drink?”
“Bring three cups and the bottle. I have ice. But listen, how soon can you get a search warrant?”
“I can call and get one. Do we need one? You have something conclusive?”
“Is best if we do this by the book,” I said. Marcy chuckled, knowing full well that is a load of shit. “Can you have one of your guys get it and serve it? I’ll give you the details.”
“That’s no problem. It’s going to take the better part of an hour, at least.”
“That’s why I said to bring the bottle. It is happy hour, is it not?”
After about an hour at the marina, we had achieved my goal. The captain used BLUESTAR FORENSIC spray in several places, while I took pictures with my iPhone. We expertly polished off the bottle of Kentucky Bourbon, and I made a note to buy this forensic spray once back in New York.
It was getting close to dinnertime, so we all headed back. During dinner with the captain, Alice, Arnold, and Marcy, we kept the conversation away from the murders, discussing trivialities and more history of the island. For such a small place as this island was, it was full of history that dated back over three hundred years, including battles during the Revolutionary War.
Six times Marcy’s iPad dinged. Agnes was emailing her research to the iPad for easier reading. Every time it dinged, I smiled. I couldn’t wait to get back in the room and read the research. But it could wait a bit. For now, it was time to set the stage.
“Alice, tomorrow around noon, I would like to have a small group meeting here at the home. I’ll pay you extra, but perhaps you can fix sandwiches for the occasion?”
“Oh, really? What’s the occasion?” Alice asked.
Touching the captain’s left arm, I replied, “The captain and I would like to gather the people who knew Bernard, plus the couple who found the body to discuss the case further. Do you think we could do that?”
Alice glanced at Arnold, and he nodded in agreement. “Fine. How many people are you expecting?”
“Let’s see. There’s the two of you, Bobby, Mr. Wetherly’s grandson, Alexander. Then, the couple. And, of course, the captain, the two officers conducting the investigation—Harrington and Reed—plus Marcy and myself.”
“Oh my, that’s quite the group,” Alice replied, as her eyes opened wide.
“How about Carmelite?” Arnold asked.
I turned to look at Arnold. “Preferably not. We’re going to be hashing out a bunch of details, and poor thing, she doesn’t need to relive the moment. Can she do some work at your home during the gathering?”
“That’s smart. Yes. We can have her at our home during that,” replied Arnold.
“Excellent. I appreciate that. Please don’t go out of your way to prepare anything fancy.”
Alice said, “I’ll take care of it. I hope I have enough of everything to feed this crowd of yours.”
I smiled at Alice. “You can start by serving this wonderful fried-chicken if there’s leftovers. Now,” I said, getting up from the table, “if you’ll excuse Marcy and me, we need to do some work back in our room.”
Marcy said her goodnights, thanked Alice for the meal, and we retreated to our room.
“Are you going to be ready at noon?” Marcy asked, closing the door to our room.
“From the volume of emails Agnes sent, I’m sure I’ll be ready.”
19
The research Agnes supplied was invaluable in putting the final touches of this mystery together. Marcy threatened me with bodily harm if I did not share with her my findings, so at about two in the morning, I summarized all of it with her. Only one piece was missing, and I hoped to put it together early, when Carmelite was preparing our breakfast.
In the morning, having a few moments by ourselves, as the captain was out of the house, Carmelite filled in the blanks.
Captain Williams, as planned, sent Harrington and Reed to make sure Corbeau and Tiunal were present for our gathering, as well as young Alexander Wetherly, sans his crew from The Citadel.
Just before noon, the living and dining areas of the B&B were filling up with our guests. Alice prepared a nice spread of cold cuts, salad, the leftover fried chicken, and a variety of drinks. While not a festive mood, the group was enjoying the meeting, and the conversation was varied. The assumption they all had was that we were there to discuss the case in greater detail. Little did they know that one or more would be leaving the island in handcuffs.
The last to arrive was young Alexander. He took a seat next to Bobby Valentine, who sat in a dining room chair turned to face the living room. Alice sat in a club chair in front of the sliding glass door, while Arnold sat on the armrest next to her. The creepy couple sat on the sofa in front of a coffee table where they had placed their sandwiches. Marcy and Captain Williams sat on the other side of the dining table, anticipation on their faces. The last two invitees, Officers Harrington and Reed, stood by the kitchen door behind the dining area. The stage was set for my reveal, and just like a game of Clue, I was ready to name the killer, the murder weapon, and the location of the act.
I sat in the living room in another club chair, opposite Alice and Arnold. To my left was the creepy couple, and to my right, the dining area. Standing up and placing Marcy’s iPad on the seat of my chair, I began my show. Swiveling my head and making eye contact with everyone, I said, “Thank you all for being here. After a few days of working with Captain Williams and the two officers, I believe we have a resolution to the mysterious murder of Bernard,” I said, noticing creepy couple glanced at each other. Corbeau crossed his legs.
“You know who the murderer is?” asked Alice, as Arnold grabbed her hand and squeezed it, all without taking his eyes off me.
“Is it one of these people?” Alexander Wetherly queried.
I turned to my right to look at Alexander. “Everyone here is guilty of something. Since you asked, let me start with you,” I said.
Alexander sat back and smiled. “I didn’t kill anybody.”
“Maybe,” I replied. Now, I was ready to utilize information that Carmelite provided me this morning, part of which was true, and the other I made up. “But, you and your little gang of spoiled brats have been terrorizing the young Gullah ladies for years. Most are petrified to bring rape charges against you. Fortunately, we’ve found two who are willing to file charges and have already made statements to the officers.”
Alexander began to stand up. “That’s bullshit. You can’t prove any of that.”
“I don’t have to prove anything—”
Captain Williams said, “Take a seat, or we’ll cuff you and remove you immediately. Besides, we're not finished with you.”
Bobby Valentine was squirming in his chair with eyes fixed on me.
“So, who’s the killer?” Creepy Corbeau asked as he put his soda down on the coffee table.
“Bobby,” I called out. He almost jumped out of his chair. Seeing his reaction, I went on, “Bobby, no. You’re not the killer. You’re only guilty of lying to your cousin Arnold about your past. The time you said you served in the armed forces, well, it was time you served in a Georgia State penitentiary.”
“For what?” asked Arnold. “He’s probably the one who killed Bernard. He hates black folk.”
“Suffice it to say, Bobby is not guilty of murder. He’s paid for his crime.” I turned to face the creepy couple.
“Don’t look at us. We haven’t done anything,” Tiunal said.
“Not in the US, perhaps, Mrs. Francois Allemande. That is your name, right? Married to Armand Allemande, from Lyon, France?” I said, pointing at her husband.
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“That’s not us. You must be mistaken. Where did you get those names?” said Corbeau, or Mr. Armand Allemande.
I glanced at the iPad. “Yes. INTERPOL gave us the name of Mrs. Allemande after we had her fingerprints checked.”
“My fingerprints? Where did you get those?” Francois asked.
“The day we met at the beach, you were kind enough to punch in your husband’s cell number on my iPhone. After finding out what your current names mean—the devil, raven, darkness, evil—I was suspicious for sure.” I paused for effect.
Young Alexander exclaimed, “They killed Bernard!”
I glanced at Alexander, then back at the Allemandes. “No, they didn’t,” I said. Alice covered her face with her hands.
“It appears that the Allemandes entered the US through Canada five years ago. And they then immediately changed their identities—illegally. Their mistake was entering the US before changing their names. Had you entered with new names, well, perhaps you’d have gotten away with it.”
“So, what’s the charge?” Armand asked. Officers Harrington and Reed passed by me and stood next to the sofa.
“You and Mrs. Allemande are wanted in the UK for the murder of a young child in connection with a satanic ritual in 2007.”
Armand glanced at the sliding glass door behind Alice and Arnold.
Captain Williams said, “Don’t even think of running. You’re on an island, remember? Cuff ’em boys, read them their rights, and take ’em outside.”
Alice’s hands were shaking, and tears were beginning to stream down her face. Arnold had his hands on her shoulder.”
“Then there were two,” I said, walking in front of the chair and sitting down, holding the iPad in my hands. “Captain,” I said.
Williams walked over next to Alice and Arnold. “Alice, Arnold, before we go on, I need to read you your rights.” Williams went on to read them both their Miranda rights. After both affirmed they understood and agreed to continue without an attorney, I was ready.
“Alice and Arnold, it wasn’t easy figuring this out. All my clues pointed elsewhere—that is until I had a honey-bun at your home with Marcy the other day.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Arnold.
“The day I went for a swim in freezing water off Bloody Point Beach where Bernard’s body was found, I stepped on a fork. I couldn’t imagine that being the murder weapon,” I said, pulling out a clear plastic baggie with a fork in it.
