by Sheri Richey
“Can I make you some tea?” Amanda asked Cora.
“No, thank you, dear. I just had some.”
“Coffee, Chief?”
“Yeah, I’ll take some,” Conrad said pulling out a kitchen chair to sit down.
Cora wandered into the living room and Bryan casually followed her.
“Here you go. There’s more over there,” Amanda said pointing to the counter. “I’ll leave you alone and let you talk. Just holler if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” Conrad said turning to Jack. “I was planning to talk with you. I was out at Mavis’ earlier today and came by here, too. They told me you were in town.”
“I thought about coming by the station earlier, but I just wasn’t sure…”
“I understand,” Conrad said, “but I’m sure you know what the right thing here is, son. Mavis needs to know the truth and if what you know might help us find out, you need to share what you know.”
“Yeah,” Jack said nodding. “I don’t think I can keep going with it any longer.
“So, you know who buried Howard out back?”
Jack rubbed his hand over his face. “Yeah, it was us. We came home from school and found him dead.”
“Who exactly do you mean by us? You and Leanne?”
“And Daniel. I mean I guess it was mainly me and Daniel,” Jack said shrugging.
“Help me understand,” Conrad said gently. “Why did you feel his body needed to be hidden? Why didn’t you just call police?”
“That’s what I wanted to do,” Jack said emphatically. “I even picked up the phone and started to call, but Leanne took the phone away and said we couldn’t do that.”
“Why do you think she felt that way?”
“I thought at first she was protecting Mavis. I couldn’t believe Mavis would kill anybody, but maybe they got in a fight and it was an accident or something. I thought Leanne was protecting her mom.”
“You don’t think that now?” Conrad said taking a sip of his coffee.
“No, I mean she’s never really told me, but it just seems crazy to think it was Mavis. Then I thought maybe she thought it was Daniel. He got home before we did, but later I knew that wasn’t it either.”
“Later?”
“Well, I mean I was a stupid kid when all this happened. I didn’t understand Rigor Mortis and stuff like that. Now I know Howard didn’t just die right before I got there.”
“Oh, I see,” Conrad said nodding. “His body was cold?”
“Yeah, and parts were getting, you know, stiff.”
“So, how was Daniel through all this? I mean, Leanne tells you to hang up and not call the police. What did Daniel say? Did he have any suggestion or…?”
“No, he was pretty freaked out when we walked in. I think he had just gotten there, and he didn’t know what to do.”
“So, Leanne makes the decisions for both of you. She tells you two to bury him?”
“Yeah, that’s pretty much it. Bryan didn’t live here back then. We knew it was a vacant house. I mean people had lived here off and on, but at the time we knew it was empty.” Jack tipped up his coffee and sat it down when he realized it was empty.
“Did you use the motorcycle?” Conrad asked as he got up from the table and got the coffee pot.
“Yeah,” Jack said raising his head up.
“Put him in the side car?”
“Yeah. How did you know?” Jack said incredulously. “You already knew that?”
“I thought it was a real possibility,” Conrad said as he refilled Jack’s cup and returned the coffee pot.
“Oh, wow, okay,” Jack said sighing with relief. “I don’t have any idea why he died though or if someone did something to him. He wasn’t bleeding or anything. I mean maybe he just died alone.”
“Tell me about the house,” Conrad said sitting back down at the table. “What did it look like when you walked in? Where was Howard?”
“Oh, well, when we pulled up Daniel was on the porch pacing. He was really upset and making no sense at all. We ran in the house and Howard was on his back in the middle of the living room floor staring at the ceiling.”
“Daniel knew he was dead?”
“Yeah, I didn’t ask how, but he told us that when, well, first thing.”
“Maybe Leanne thought Daniel killed him.”
“Maybe,” Jack said. “But he was in school all day just like us. I mean he rode the bus home and I saw him during the day. I knew he was at school.”
“Like you said though, now you know that he hadn’t just died, but back then you didn’t know about Rigor Mortis.”
“Yeah, I might have thought that back then. Leanne might have, too. I don’t think that now.”
“So now that you know better, you thought they ought to tell Mavis,” Conrad said.
“Right,” Jack said. “I mean none of us thought she did it and we didn’t do it, so it’s time to try to find out who did. I’m guessing they think they’ll get in trouble. Can you get in trouble for just burying somebody?”
“Disturbing a body and not reporting a crime is a fourth-degree misdemeanor,” Conrad admitted. “But concealing evidence that could further an investigation is a lot more serious. You were right to tell us. I’m sorry they wouldn’t listen to you.”
“I don’t want anybody to get in trouble. I just need to know I did what I could to help find out the truth.”
“Was the house disturbed at all? Anything knocked over? Anything out of place?”
“Not that I remember,” Jack said staring off blankly at a spot on the wall. “It was, you know, we were upset. It’s all kind of fuzzy, but I don’t remember anything different.”
“Was there snow on the ground that day?”
“No,” Jack said. “It was cool outside but not even as cold as usual for December. I remember thinking we wouldn’t be able to dig. You know, the ground would be hard, but it wasn’t.”
“So, nothing in the house that didn’t belong?”
“Ah,” Jack said running his hands through his hair. “I wish I could remember. All I could focus on was Howard and what we were going to do. I don’t think I even looked but there was nothing obvious. Surely, I would have noticed if there was something really different. I wish I could be more help.”
“Don’t feel bad,” Conrad said patting Jack on the shoulder. “It’s perfectly normal. It’s an emotional time and it’s been a long time ago.”
“Maybe when you talk to Leanne or Daniel, they’ll remember something. I mean, they live there so they would notice little things I wouldn’t.”
“Maybe,” Conrad said. “Well, I’ve got everything I need. Are you planning to go back to Mavis’ tonight?”
“I hadn’t thought, I don’t know. They’ll wonder if I don’t, but…”
“Maybe it would be better if I got you a room in a hotel. I could drop you off there and we can work all this out tomorrow?”
“Why don’t you just stay here, Jack?” Bryan said as he walked in the kitchen. “I’ve got a spare room and your car isn’t here, so no one will come looking for you unless you said something when you left.”
“Okay, I guess,” Jack said looking between Bryan and Conrad. “Maybe I should call though or something. What if they start thinking I’ve disappeared?”
“Maybe a text would be better,” Bryan suggested. “So, your voice doesn’t sound nervous or anything. Just tell her we’re going to watch the game or a movie, something that will make it real late and you don’t want to wake up everybody coming home.”
“Is Leanne working here tomorrow?” Conrad asked Bryan.
“Yeah, but she doesn’t come over until 10:00.”
“When does she take the kids to school?” Conrad asked Jack.
“I don’t really know,” Jack stammered.
“Okay, I think the text is a good idea, but after you send it, I still think you’re better off at the inn. I’ll talk to Daniel and Leanne first thing in the morning, but I’d rather you not
interact with them any more than that until I do.”
“Okay,” Jack said taking out his phone and typing a text to Leanne.
“Can I trust you not to talk to anyone else tonight? That means Leanne, Daniel, Mavis or anybody else?” Conrad didn’t want to lock him up although it was an option, but he didn’t want Jack muddying the waters.
“Sure, Chief, but maybe we should just go over there tonight. I’m sure they’ll tell you what they know.”
“I’m trying to minimize the situation for you. I’d like the chance to try to get them to tell me the truth on their own. I’d rather do all that tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Jack said shrugging. “Maybe they’ll listen to you.”
“If they come clean tomorrow, they won’t blame you. Let’s try it my way.”
CHAPTER 29
“Did everything go okay with Jack last night?” Cora asked Conrad when she answered his early morning call.
“I guess. I registered him at the Nutmeg Inn and told him to sit tight. I don’t know if he’ll do that or not. I’m sure he’s itching to call Leanne.”
“So, what’s your plan today?”
“I’m sending a car out to tail Leanne to the school and pick her up after the kids are safely inside. I’ve got Tabor going out to Mavis’ to pick up Daniel.”
“So, you’re bringing them both in?” Cora was worried about Mavis’ reaction. “What are you telling them?”
“Just that I need a statement, need them to sign their statement and we’ll have to see what that is first,” Conrad said.
“Did you call Alice?”
“Yeah. She wants to have them charged, but I got her to agree to hold off today and let me see what they say. That’s part of the reason I wanted to keep Jack away.”
“Daniel might cave, but I don’t know about Leanne,” Cora said worried Leanne was going to make it worse for herself.
“I’m thinking the same thing, but this still doesn’t solve the real question unless Daniel confesses to murder.”
“You think he might have done it?” Cora said frowning. It was always possible if he and Howard argued, maybe things got out of hand. He was a strong young man.
“Not really,” Conrad said. “But one of them might know who did. Covering it all up doesn’t make sense otherwise.”
“I still think Miriam is involved,” Cora said. “I know you think she’s all talk, but I think she can’t handle her own rage. Maybe she didn’t plan to, but I can see her getting angry enough to hurt someone. I’ve thought she was going to hurt me before.”
“There are still angles I haven’t explored,” Conrad said. “Maybe it’s none of them. I’ll call you once I get through this and hopefully, we’ll know something more.”
§
“Sorry to bring you in, Daniel,” Conrad said as he sat in the chair across from Daniel in the interview room. “I’ve just got limited time today to see a number of people and I couldn’t get out of the office.”
“That’s okay,” Daniel said with his hands under the table.
“Now, I know we talked yesterday, but I think you left some parts out and I want to make sure I get it all down when we complete your statement.” Daniel stared at a point in the middle of the table and said nothing. “Okay, let’s start at the beginning of your day, that last day you saw Howard. It was December 17, 1999. Correct?”
“Yeah,” Daniel said and raised his head slightly.
“So, tell me what you did. You woke up and…”
“I don’t remember. I guess it was like any other day.”
“Okay, what do you do any other day?” Conrad suddenly flashed back to his last conversation with Daniel. He had forgotten how painfully slow it had gone.
“Got up, got dressed, ate breakfast, went to school,” Daniel smirked at Conrad and looked him in the eye.
“So, did you eat with Howard?”
“No.”
“Who did you eat breakfast with?”
“I just got myself some cereal. We just ate whenever we wanted.”
“Okay, where was Howard?”
“I don’t know. I guess in the living room. He usually sat in front of the TV in the morning and watched the news.”
“Okay, what time did you leave for school?”
“I think it was like 7:40 when the bus came by.”
“Did Leanne ride the bus, too?”
“Sometimes,” Daniel said shrugging.
“Just a minute. I’ll be right back,” Conrad said and left the room.
§
“Tabor, where did you put her?”
“Oh, hey Chief. She’s in Interview Room Four.”
Conrad opened the door and Leanne glared at him angrily. “I’m sorry for bringing you in here, but I’m really strapped for time today and I couldn’t run back out to the nursery. I hope you don’t mind.”
“You could have just called me. I’d have come in.”
“Well, I didn’t think you were home. I thought you had to take the kids to school, so I had the officer intercept you, so you didn’t drive to town twice.”
“Okay,” Leanne said with a huff. “I’m here. What do you need?”
“First, can you come back out to dispatch with me. I need some basic information and then I’ll be able to finish up.”
“Sure,” Leanne said standing and following Conrad out into the foyer.
As soon as they were in front of Interview Room Two, Conrad stopped. “Wait here just a minute for me. I’ve got to get something from my office.”
“Okay,” Leanne said as she stood idly looking around and spotted Daniel through a window in Interview Room Two.
Conrad looked around his office for a report form he could use and gave the siblings ample time to see each other.
“Okay, I got it. Let’s go in this first room. It’s empty now.” Conrad waited until Leanne was seated and gave her a statement sheet. “If you can fill out the demographic information on the top, that will get us started and I’ll be right back.”
§
“Okay, sorry for that. Let’s get back to where we were. You rode the bus to school that day, but you don’t remember if Leanne did or not. Is that correct?”
“Yeah. I mean she usually did, but I don’t remember that specific morning.”
“Right. Right. It was just a normal day for you,” Conrad said crossing one ankle over his knee and pretending to write on the pad of paper he brought back in with him.
“Did you stay at school all day?”
“Yeah.”
“You seem certain of that.”
“I am,” Daniel said sneering. “You think I left school and went home and killed Howard?”
“Not unless you had a friend with a car,” Conrad said.
Daniel huffed. “Look, I don’t know anything. We’ve already talked about that.”
“Yes, and I have to say, that is what troubles me the most,” Conrad said putting his leg down and leaning forward on his elbows. “I know that’s not true and I can’t figure out why you’d lie about that unless you’re covering up something even bigger.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Who do you think killed Howard?”
“I don’t know,” Daniel said throwing his hands out at his sides.
“Do you think Leanne and Jack came home in the middle of the day and did it? Maybe it was your mom?”
“What? No! None of that is true,” Daniel yelled.
“So, why are you keeping secrets? If it’s not for your mom or your sister, who are you trying to protect?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Daniel said again leaning back in his chair and lowering his head.
“I think you do, and I know you’d feel a lot better about things if you’d get that secret off your chest. I mean, it’s not really a secret anymore. I know and, well, everybody in this station knows, so it isn’t your secret anymore.”
Daniel stared down at the edge of the table without
speaking.
“You think about it. I’ll be back.” Conrad left the room quickly and went into Interview Room One.
§
Conrad rushed into Leanne’s room, turned the chair backwards and straddled it. “Sorry,” he said breathlessly. “Let’s get back to this now.”
“Okay, I filled in the top. What do you want me to put in the bottom part?”
“I wanted to ask you something, something I forgot when we talked before,” Conrad said.
“Sure.”
“Did you ride the bus to school that day? The day Howard died?”
“Probably. I mean I usually did because Jack went to school early. I don’t really remember the morning specifically.”
“Did you and Jack stay at school all day? I mean did you ever cut classes or leave campus for any reason?”
“No, we were there all day.”
“What about Daniel? Do you know if he was at the school all day?”
“I can’t say for certain. I mean I just saw him in passing, but I’m sure he probably was. He rode the bus home.”
“How do you know he did?”
“Well, I guess I don’t. He was almost always home before I was. How else would he get there?”
“I don’t know,” Conrad said shrugging. “He was sixteen, wasn’t he? I mean I’m sure he had friends who had cars at school.”
“Maybe,” Leanne said shrugging. “Why don’t you ask him?”
“Oh, I have. I just wanted to see if you knew.”
“He was my kid brother. I didn’t pay a lot of attention to him or his friends back then.”
“Oh, okay. So, tell me about when you got home. Jack brought you home, right?”
“Yeah, he usually did unless he had to stay after for something.”
“So, start there,” Conrad said picking up his pad of paper and holding his pen as if he was ready to write.
“Jack brought me home from school,” Leanne said slowly. “Daniel was already there. That’s all there was.”
“Daniel was inside the house?”
“No, he was out on the porch,” Leanne said and then added, “I think”.
“You and Jack got out of the car and walked up,” Conrad said nodding, “and what did Daniel say?”
