The Secrets of Ethan Falls

by J. W. Lucas

  “WHAT?” I asked incredulously.

  “He’s dead. He was at the Sheriff’s sub-station in town and there was a shooting and they killed him.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “Lindsey, when did this happen?”

  “This morning, about two hours ago. Sarah Peterson, Susan’s mother, just called and told me. Daryl, I’m scared. Why is all of this happening? What’s going on? Now I’m really scared for Forrest in the hospital. I’m at the hotel and have the TV on. The Rutland station is live at the scene. Wait a minute. They’re saying something about the State Police just arriving in town. Thank God they’re finally getting involved.”

  “Lindsey, when I was in Ethan Falls I didn’t see any Sheriff’s office, where is it?”

  “It’s on Main Street, a storefront actually. It’s easy to miss. The Sheriff’s main headquarters is in Hamilton, next to the jail. I’m sorry to have to call you like this but I thought it was important for you to know about.”

  “It‘s very important. Thanks for letting me know. What are your plans for today?”

  “I was just ready to leave for the hospital when Sarah called. I’m going over there now to stay with Forrest through dinner. I’ll be back home tonight around eight.”

  “Okay, if I can’t get the Rutland station on cable down here I’ll follow the coverage online.”

  “Daryl, I feel absolutely awful calling you over this. I know how much you wanted to have a romantic weekend with Mandy. Does she like your place?”

  “She loves it, she’s a little overwhelmed with everything, but I think she’s having fun. She’s in the Jacuzzi right now.”

  “Jacuzzi? Lucky girl. You’ll have to invite Forrest and me down some weekend. We’d love to see your place.”

  “I promise I will. I think we’ll be staying here through Sunday; I plan on driving up to the hotel Monday afternoon. Please call me if you need anything.”

  “I won’t call you. I’m worried that I’ve already spoiled your weekend and I feel terrible.”

  “No! I’m your lawyer, remember? Call me if you need anything. I’m not kidding.”

  “I will. Are you going to tell Mandy what’s happened?”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have to think what to say. She seems so happy right now and I don’t want to take that from her.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you, just again that I’m sorry if I’ve spoiled your weekend. Have you told her that you’re in love with her?”

  “No.”

  “I think you should, I know you are. It’s written all over your face. I’ll try not to bother you again. See you Monday. Bye.”

  I went over to my office set-up in the corner of the room and brought the laptop over to the recliner. I Googled TV news stations in Rutland and clicked on a breaking news website and the action at the Sheriff’s office came right up. I grabbed the remote and with the Bluetooth menu, I was able to bring up the computer on the flat screen.

  The scene looked chaotic, with police cars, uniformed cops, fire trucks and an ambulance. The reporter was talking about the State Police arriving on the scene as the cameraman zoomed in on what looked like a heated argument between two men. The reporter described the scene:

  “Ladies and gentlemen, to bring you up to date on this breaking news, almost three hours ago there was a shooting inside the Abbot County Sheriff’s Department sub-station here in Ethan Falls. We’ve learned that a lone gunman entered the building and was shot dead by Deputies during an altercation. Police have identified the gunman as Mark Savage, age 46, a member of the Department.”

  “We’ve learned from sources that Deputy Savage was under suspension from his duties after he was arrested two nights ago in North Bellington following an alleged bar fight. He was free on bond and reportedly was just discharged from the hospital after treatment of a head injury he sustained.”

  “The State Police have arrived here, and you can see as the camera pans around about a dozen trooper cars.”

  “There is a heated discussion going on between what appears to be several troopers and Sheriff J.B. Hunter and his deputies.

  “I can’t tell from my vantage point what the argument is about, but it looks like the Sheriff is physically blocking the troopers’ entry into the building. Traffic has come to a standstill here on Main Street.”

  From the video, it was easy for me to distinguish Sheriff Porky Hunter. The man lived up to the descriptions I had been given, both his appearance and his behavior.

  The reporter continued, “Police have not yet identified the Deputy who shot the suspect, and we’ve just learned from our newsroom that County Executive Warren Donnelly is on his way here for a press conference. We will be going back to our normal programming but will break in and bring you Mr. Donnelly’s comments on this developing story live as it happens.”

  I was so engrossed in the TV that I hadn’t noticed that Mandy was standing in the doorway.

  She was wearing a short white robe and slippers and was drying her hair with a towel. I didn’t know how long she had been standing there, but from the look on her face apparently long enough to have heard what happened. She was looking at me and didn’t speak.

  “Mandy come sit down,” I beckoned, and she settled into the leather couch. I got up from the recliner and sat next to her.

  “Savage is dead?” she asked quietly.

  “Yes.”

  She folded her hands and looked down at them and said in a hushed voice, “Please don’t think less of me, but I’m not sorry he’s dead. I haven’t said anything to you, but I’ve been scared that I would have to testify at a trial. I had a dream, no, a nightmare the other night, that he got sent to jail and said that he would get me when he got out.”

  I saw that she was shaking and put my arm around her, she leaned her head against me and I said, “Honey why didn’t you say something about that to me?”

  “You’ve been so nice and in just a few days I’ve been drawn so close to you. I didn’t want you to think I was weak.”

  “You’re not weak. Just human, it’s normal to feel as you do. He’s gone now, and he can’t hurt you.” She nodded her head and I could feel that she was softly crying. The tears slowly running down her cheeks confirmed it.

  “Hey”! Don’t cry over him. He brought this on himself.”

  She looked up at me and said,” I’m not crying for him, these tears are for you, for us. I think I know now why you came to Ethan Falls. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “In case you haven’t figured it out Daryl, I’ve fallen in love with you. Crazy I know, it’s only been a few days, but I have. I feel like Cinderella. It’s not your job, your money or this house. It’s You!”

  Our kiss was short, but our embrace was long and sincere. “I love you too Mandy,” I whispered.

  After a minute or two she sat up and said, “I’m sorry, I must look like a drowned rat. I have to go dry my hair and get dressed” as she wiped away her tears with the towel. “Where’s your laundry room? I have some wet towels and things I want to dry.”

  She followed me into the kitchen and I opened the door leading to the laundry. The washer and dryer were brand new, and I hadn’t been home long enough to figure out how they worked.

  “I never would have guessed that was the laundry. I thought maybe it was a pantry.”

  “No that’s over here,” I said as I opened another built-in cabinet door that revealed a large walk-in. The shelves were bare, but they were new and ready.

  “Daryl Richardson, you are just full of surprises. Didn’t you bring some laundry from the hotel? I can wash it for you.”

  “That would be great, but you don’t have to.”

  “Oh, hush. Where is it?” I told her the green drawstring canvas bag was in the master bedroom closet.

  I kept an eye on the TV as I wanted to catch Donnelly’s press conference. I saw Mandy coming down the hal
l with our laundry and noticed that she had changed into jeans and a white top. She had her hair down like it was last night. I was behind the bar dumping the now warm beer I had neglected and started to fix myself a drink. I heard the washer startup and the door to the room close.

  “Hey mister, are you trying to take over my territory?” she said as she came into the family room. “I can fix your drink; I have some experience you know.”

  “I’ve heard that. Would you like something? I have a wine refrigerator back here.”

  “Hmmm, you know, I think I would,” she said as she came behind the bar and gave me a playful bump with her hip to move me out of the way. She smelled nice, not that haunting perfume, but more like fruity shampoo. I liked it.

  “Wow, where did you get all of this wine. I didn’t know you were a wine drinker.”

  “I’m not. Almost all of them were gifts; they’ve been in there for a while. I hope they’re still good.”

  “Wine rarely goes bad, especially if it’s stored like this. It gets better with age. Boy… I have a lot to teach you.”

  “I hope so,” I said, as the words just slipped out. She gave me an exaggerated wink, and I squeezed past her and went over to the couch just in time to see that regular programming was being interrupted and was switching to the arrival at the Sheriffs’ Department of County Executive Warren Donnelly. I was struck that he got out of the backseat of a chauffeur-driven new Lincoln. “Where the hell does he think he is, DC?” I thought to myself.

  Mandy came over and set our glasses down on the coffee table. Without my asking she had made me a VO and Coke, she had selected a red wine for herself; don’t ask me what it was.

  I turned the volume up in time to hear the commentator bringing viewers up to date.

  “It’s been a violent two months in Abbot County, and all eyes are on the village of Ethan Falls.”

  “Violence reared its ugly head again earlier today when Abbot County Deputy Sheriff Mark Savage stormed this small, police sub-station. We have exclusively learned that Savage was shot and killed by Abbot County Detective Captain John Carpa and Detective Roger Manning, the only two Sheriffs who were in the building. Both were uninjured”.

  “Although no motive has been released, there is speculation that Savage, who was arrested earlier this week after a bar fight in North Bellington may have been a suspect in the rape and murder of rising star singer Susan Peterson whose body was found in the woods of Ethan Falls almost two months ago, and this week’s shooting of Judge Forrest Moran, who remains in critical condition at a local hospital.”

  “We are now switching live to Ethan Falls, where County Executive Warren Donnelly is expected to begin a press conference in just a few minutes. Our reporter Fran Connolly is on the scene. Fran are you there?”

  Mandy reached over, grabbed my arm and squeezed it. “What did he say about Savage being a suspect in Susan’s murder? And shooting the Judge?”

  “I don’t think Savage did either of those things, Mandy. Let’s listen.”

  “Yes Peter, I’m here, and as you can see Mr. Donnelly is conferring with Sheriff Hunter and we expect his comments in a few minutes. There’s still no official word about an apparent dispute over jurisdiction that resulted in an earlier heated exchange between the Sheriff’s Department and the State Police, but as you can see there is still a strong presence from both agencies here at the scene.”

  “In recent weeks Sheriff Hunter has come under fire for the apparent lack of progress to arrest the murderer, and sentiment has been growing for the State Police to step in. But even with the shooting earlier this week of Judge Forrest Moran in Ethan Falls, County Executive Donnelly has firmly stood behind his Sheriff’s Department.”

  “It looks like they’re ready to start Peter, let’s listen to Abbot County Executive Warren Donnelly:”

  “Ladies and gentlemen today has been another dark day in Ethan Falls.”

  “By the grace of God, and the swift and professional response by my Sheriff’s Department, a horrific active shooter incident was thwarted, and the man who intended to kill or maim others lies dead. The fact that he was one of their own compounds the sadness.”

  “As a community, we have been shocked by the recent violence we’ve seen; the loss of a young woman’s life and the attempted murder of one of our most revered jurists. We aren’t used to this way of life in Abbot County, and as your elected leader I am doing everything in my power to ensure that all of you and your families are safe in your homes and on our streets.”

  “I think that what happened here today will close the book on this sad chapter of our County’s history and restore peace here in Ethan Falls. I appreciate the offers of assistance from the State, but want to make it clear to all that we have long been independent of State involvement in our affairs, and in fact our record of reducing crime, fiscal stability, controlled commercial development of our land, and the Sheriff’s Department’s crackdown on illegal drugs coming through our communities is cause for the State to take notice of how good government should be run.”

  “I will not accept any questions from the press today, nor shall the Sheriff, as today’s incident, as well as the recent cases, are continuing investigations.”

  “Thank you, and may God Bless Abbot County.”

  I shut down the computer and TV and saw that Mandy was looking at me with a worried look.

  “Are you really going to help that man look like a hero?”

  I hesitated a moment. “No, I think he’s trying to challenge me.”

  I got up from the couch, went out onto the deck and stared at the hills in the distance. I couldn’t believe what had happened in the past few hours.

  From what little I had learned about the crimes in Ethan Falls, it seemed like the Sheriff’s Department hadn’t done much to solve them. If the speculation the reporter mentioned was correct, Mark Savage would be blamed for both. His history of abuse of his ex-wife could explain the violence in Susan’s murder, but how would that tie into Judge Moran?

  If the Sheriff was to come out and report that Savage had made an admission before he was killed, how would I know if that was what really happened? And why was he so protective of the crime scene that he wouldn’t let the State Police through the door?

  And why were the two detectives the ones that killed him? Why was Savage there? Had they called him in for questioning? If he had a gun, what caliber was it? What bullets were in it? Too many questions, not enough answers. My gut was telling me this could be an almost perfect frame-up. Almost.

  I heard the slider open behind me and Mandy came over and put both her arms around my waist.

  “Are you OK Hon?”

  “Yeah. I just need some time to think.”

  “Why don’t you just walk away from all of this Daryl? I can see that all this stress is killing you. Savage is dead. If they’re right that he killed Susan and shot the Judge, it’s done. There won’t be any trial, and after time people will put this to rest and get on with their lives. You have so much to live for now, this house, and hopefully me, us.”

  Mandy, I know it’s crazy like you said, and I do love you. A lot. And I want to see where that love will take us, but…..”

  “But what?”

  “Savage didn’t do it, but I think I know who did.”

  “But how do you know?” she asked as she stepped in to face me.

  “I just sense it. I’ll be alright; I just need some time to think this through.

  “Daryl, are you really that good at what you do?” she asked.

  “Google seems to think so,” I said, offering a weak smile.

  “I love you!” she said squeezing me. “It’s about four-thirty, what time do you want to eat?”

  “Are you cooking?”

  “If making sandwiches and salads count as cooking, Yes Sir I am!”

  “How about five-thirty?”

  She stood erect, saluted, headed back inside, but stopped.

  “Hey,” she said, and I
turned and looked at her,” I know where that love you spoke about is taking us tonight. That’s something to live for, isn’t it?”

  “That’s everything to live for Mandy.”

  “Just checking,” and she went back into the house.

  Dinner at five-thirty was served on the deck, as it was warm out and we still had a few hours of daylight.

  My pastrami on rye with mustard and a small tossed salad weren’t in the same league as Haberstroh’s sauerbraten, but it sure tasted good.

  Mandy had made herself a chef’s salad, pulled a piece of lettuce from it and tasted it. “Yummy, this is really fresh.”

  “Oops, I forgot something to drink. Would you like a beer?

  “No, I’d like water please,” and she came back with the bottles.

  “To us,” she said cheerfully as we raised our plastic in a toast. We finished dinner over some light conversation and neither of us spoke of the problems in Ethan Falls.

  “Daryl, I had to move that pile of mail in the kitchen while I was making dinner and couldn’t help but see it looks like a couple of weeks worth. Don’t you read your mail?”

  “I’ve been up in Boston and I really haven’t had time to look at it when I’ve been here on the weekends. It’s nothing really; I get statements every month from my lawyers and accountant. They handle all of my bills for me.”

  “But don’t you want to know that they’re doing a good job for you?”

  “Yeah, of course, but I haven’t had any problems that I know of. The renovations here were expensive, but Erik stayed on top of the contractors to make sure I wasn’t getting taken. Bernie kept a ledger and sent the invoices to the accountants. Do you know that she hounded them to make sure that all the construction bills were paid within ten days of receipt? My lawyer called me and begged me to talk with her to stop beating up his people on the phone! He said they’re used to net thirty payments, not ten days. I give her a lot of credit. She said they were all local small businesses and cash flow was critical to them. That’s Bernie! She’s always thinking of others.”