Justice in Mystic Grove

by S F Bose

  “Why don’t you just come to my office? Everyone else has left,” I said.

  Rose groaned. “Seriously? Your office is the last place I’d go.”

  “Okay. Where do you want to meet?”

  Instead of an address, Rose gave me GPS coordinates, which I wrote down. After confirming the coordinates, she said, “I’ll wait exactly half an hour. It should take you ten minutes to get here. When I see your car, I’ll call your cell phone again.” Then she hung up.

  I debated calling Sam but decided against it. If I went alone, I might be able to persuade Rose to turn herself in. I entered the GPS coordinates into my cell phone navigation app. The on-screen map displayed a destination of Black Earth. Grabbing my coat and bag, I flew out of the office. I made it down the hallway and stairwell in record time.

  I hurried to my car and started it. Then I followed GPS Nathan’s warm voice as he called out the directions to Black Earth from my cell phone app. We traveled on two highways and several country roads to Black Earth. After the GPS instructed me to turn onto yet another country road, my cell phone rang.

  “Yes?” I answered.

  “I see you. Stay on the road you’re on,” Rose replied. “You’ll see the old Peabody Cemetery on the right. There’s a stone wall in front, two pillars, and a gate. It’s semi-abandoned so we won’t be disturbed. Park on the side of the road and walk in.”

  “Got it,” I replied and disconnected. I passed the cemetery gate, pulled off the road, and parked. After pocketing my phone, I trudged back to the stone entrance and opened the old iron gate. I left it wide open and walked up the uneven path. The temperature had dropped to the forties, so I jammed my hands into my coat pockets.

  Tall trees surrounded the cemetery on three sides and some smaller trees clustered near individual grave monuments. I passed a granite headstone on a concrete base. Smaller raised headstones stood in a circle around it. A low, rock wall encircled another large grave monument. As I walked further, the wind gusted and the trees rustled and creaked. I glanced back over my shoulder. The cemetery was creepy.

  I scanned the grounds but didn’t see Rose. Moving off the path, I walked past smaller headstones. Although some gravesites looked neglected, others were decorated with fresh flowers. I also noticed that somebody had mowed the grass.

  I read inscriptions on the headstones as I walked. People in the 1800s seemed to live to their fifties at most. The inscriptions made family connections clear although time and weather had worn away some of the letters. I had the sad realization that someday many of the stones would be unreadable and the interred peoples’ identities would be lost forever.

  One inscription leaped out at me and I stopped at the grave. The headstone read, “Our Babies Bradshaw ~ Unknown Birthdate – 1885.”

  Unknown birthdate? How did they not know the year the children had been born? The headstones of the parents were next to the children. Charles Bradshaw, the father, lived to be fifty-seven. His wife, Nora, died when she was thirty-two.

  I walked further back into the cemetery where the grounds opened up. The path circled around and through three grassy sections filled with gravesites. The trees on the perimeter towered like sentries.

  Many of the larger granite and marbles headstones remained upright. The smaller headstones were worn but intact. Several obelisk monuments speared up into the sky. I was cheered to see more containers of fresh flowers standing in front of some of the graves.

  “Hey,” a voice shouted and I spun around.

  Rose stepped out from behind a large monument in the distance. She was dressed in black pants, black jacket, and a baseball cap. I walked back toward her, stopping a few feet away. My hands were at my sides. Rose held a Glock in her right hand, against her leg.

  “Thanks for coming alone,” she said.

  “Put the gun away. I’m armed but it’s too freaking cold to force you to come back to Mystic Grove. And why did you pick such a depressing place to meet?” I snapped.

  After a few seconds, Rose laughed and slid the gun into her jacket pocket. I noticed a cell phone in her left hand. I closed the distance between us.

  “It’s not depressing. They just don’t get as many visitors here as they do at other cemeteries. Voluntary caretakers come by weekly to mow the grass, tend the graves, and leave flowers. It’s a peaceful place.”

  I frowned. “How do you know that?”

  “Because I’m one of the caretakers,” she replied and smiled. “I come out with some flowers every few weeks. I also try to clean up any tree branches that come down near the headstones.”

  I shook my head. “You’re full of surprises, Rose. Okay, what did you want to show me?”

  She raised the cell phone. “I put an audio file up on a file sharing site. It’s password protected. She pulled a slip of paper from her pocket and handed it to me. That’s the information to access the file,” she said. The paper listed a website address, login, and password. I put it in my pocket.

  “It’s Meagher again?” I asked.

  “Yes. Meagher called my other cell phone two weeks before his murder.”

  I nodded at her phone. “That’s a throw away?”

  “Of course it is. And I sent you an email that is anonymous and encrypted. Now listen.”

  I moved next to her as she clicked on a file. Tinny voices filled the air and I leaned in.

  Steven Meagher: Rose, this is Meagher. You need to send the payment you owe me. I’m not kidding around.

  Rose: I’m not paying you any more money. I told you that.

  Steven Meagher: Listen to me, Rose. Listen carefully. I’ve killed before and I can kill again. You need to pay up.

  Rose: How many times do I have to tell you it’s over? No more money.

  Steven Meagher: Don’t be stupid. I know where you and all of your family live. Just pay the money.

  Rose: Meagher, if you go near anyone in my family, I’ll kill you.

  At the sound of the dial tone, I looked at Rose. She saw the look in my eyes.

  “I threatened him after he threatened my family. But I didn’t kill him, Liz. Those two guys in the video are your killers,” Rose said.

  “And you weren’t working with them?” I asked. I watched her closely and saw the surprise in her eyes.

  “That’s what they think?”

  When I nodded, she shook her head. “I didn’t kill Meagher and I wasn’t working with those two guys.” Either Rose was an excellent actress or she was telling the truth.

  “Did you recognize them?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “No, they were covered from head to toe. They didn’t limp or anything,” she replied.

  “Eric said you thought it was Larissa’s red Caddy at the cabin?” I asked.

  “It sure looked like it. But I only had a fast look as the car backed out of the parking spot. After that, I ducked down and never saw the license plates.”

  “So you’re not one hundred percent sure it was her car?” I asked.

  Rose shook her head. “No, I can’t say I am. But my first thought when I saw the car pull out was ‘Larissa’s car.’”

  “What made you think it was her car?” I asked.

  “When it pulled out that was what popped into my head,” Rose replied.

  I nodded and looked around. “You’re sure you don’t want to go back with me?” I asked.

  “I can’t,” she replied.

  “Your family misses you,” I said.

  “How’s Eric doing?” Rose asked. Her voice had softened.

  “Come back with me and see for yourself.”

  Rose shook her head. “I can’t do that, Liz. You need to find those two killers so I can go home without any reservations.”

  I sighed. “Eric looked good. He presented your case well. He’s definitely… “

  “Arrogant?” Rose said and we both laughed. “I miss him,” she added.

  “Rose, turn yourself in. Eric can get his lawyer to meet us at the station. You’ll probably
be out on bail by tomorrow,” I said.

  “No. I’ll wait until you get the real killers. I’m not taking any chances with the local police,” Rose replied.

  I felt an electric tingle streak from my neck down my spine. At the same time, Rose’s face changed.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “I saw movement in the woods,” she replied, pulling her gun. As I turned toward the distant tree line, I reached under my coat and pulled out my Glock. Movement drew my eyes to the right and I saw a muzzle flash.

  “Down!” I shouted and we both dove for the ground. I rolled to my left and took cover behind a large tree. A bullet whizzed by high. After a second muzzle flash, Rose and I opened fire. The shooter fired back several times, but his bullets didn’t hit anywhere near us. Then it was quiet.

  “You okay?” I called.

  “Yeah. How about you?”

  “I’m good. Where are you?”

  “Behind the monument.”

  “Stay put,” I replied.

  I looked around the tree trunk and scanned the distant tree line. There was no sound or movement. The silence grew longer until a car engine started up in the distance.

  “Did you tell anyone you were meeting me?” Rose asked, easing out into the open.

  “Nobody,” I replied, standing. I still watched the tree line.

  “You were followed,” she said.

  I gave her a sour look. “No way. I know how to spot a tail.”

  “There’s more than one way to follow a person. Check your car for a tracker,” she replied. “That shooter didn’t just stumble on us.”

  “How do you know you weren’t followed?” I retorted.

  Rose snorted. “Not likely. Find the real killers so I can go home to my husband, Liz. I’m getting out of here.”

  Rose turned and jogged down the path toward the front gate.

  “You need a ride?” I called, holstering my Glock and following her.

  “No, my car’s up the road,” she called back.

  Rose had almost reached the gate when two Mystic Grove police cars with lights flashing skidded to a stop in front of the cemetery. Chief Matt Durand and Newmont exited their cars with guns drawn. Rose turned back toward me and I thought she was going to run.

  “Freeze! Police!” Matt shouted. “Don’t move.”

  Rose pinned me with an angry look and raised her hands into the air.

  I jogged down the path and stopped when I reached her. Matt Durand and Newmont were still running up the path toward us

  “I didn’t bring them,” I told her. She just looked at me.

  “Handgun in right coat pocket,” she shouted. Newmont holstered his gun. Then he patted Rose down and slid the gun out of her pocket. He handcuffed her hands behind her back.

  “Liz, are you all right?” Matt asked, stopping next to me. He looked worried.

  “I’m fine. How did you get here so fast?” I asked.

  Matt took a deep breath and slid his gun into his holster. “We got an anonymous phone call.”

  “Anonymous phone call? How long ago?” I asked.

  “About fifteen minutes,” Matt replied, fixing me with his dark brown eyes.

  “Man or woman?” I asked.

  “Joyce took the call and said it was a man’s voice but sounded altered. She called back but got no answer,” Newmont replied. The caller probably used a burner phone, I thought.

  “What exactly did the caller say?” Rose asked.

  Matt looked at her. “That a man in the woods was going to shoot Liz Bean and another woman at the old Peabody Cemetery in Black Earth.”

  I looked at Rose. “Fifteen minutes ago? Someone called the police before the shooter fired on us.”

  Rose nodded. “Buy why?”

  “There really was a shooter?” Matt asked.

  “Someone shot at us from the woods about five minutes ago,” I replied.

  I looked at Rose, trying to make sense of it. “So someone tracked one of us here and went into the woods by the cemetery. Then someone called the Mystic Grove police before the shooter started firing.”

  Rose’s eyes widened. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say someone set up the shooter to be arrested or killed by the police. Either the shooter was really bad or he was firing high to scare us.”

  I thought about that scenario. “It works,” I agreed. “We were sitting ducks and all his shots were high.”

  “Tell me more about the shooting,” said Matt. I quickly described gunshots from the tree line and how we returned fire.

  “It sounded like a handgun,” I added.

  “Did you see the shooter?” Matt asked.

  I shook my head. “No, I only saw muzzle flashes.”

  Matt’s jaw tightened. “Rose’s partners in crime probably turned on her.”

  Rose replied in a firm voice, “I don’t have any partners in crime. You should find the person who shot at us. He or she could be linked to Meagher’s murder.”

  “Could be. Rose, where’d you park your car?” I asked.

  “Turn right out of the gate and go two hundred feet. It’s on the right side of the road. The keys are in my left jacket pocket,” she replied.

  “Could you do a quick check of Rose’s car and my car for any type of tracking device?” I asked Matt.

  “Give me your keys and I’ll check the cars,” Newmont said.

  I took Rose’s keys from her pocket and fished my keys out of my pocket. I handed them to him.

  “Thanks Newmont. My car is to the right too and parked on the side of the road.” I said and he nodded.

  Matt walked Rose and me back to the scene of the shooting. I pointed to where I had seen the muzzle flashes.

  “Now explain why you were meeting with a murder suspect in a cemetery?” Matt asked.

  “I didn’t kill Meagher,” Rose said firmly.

  “I know about the BOLO. Do you have an arrest warrant?” I asked.

  Matt glanced at Rose, who stood watching us. “No, I don’t have an arrest warrant. We wanted to talk to Mrs. O’Ryan first.”

  I grunted. “I met Rose because she called and said she had another recording of Meagher. She’d forgotten to put it on the flash drive. She put it on a file sharing website. I’ll text the link and login information to Newmont. On the recording, Meagher admitted he had killed other people and could do it again.”

  “He also threatened my family,” Rose added.

  Matt pounced. “Is that why you and your two friends killed him?”

  “How many times do I have to say I didn’t kill Steven Meagher,” Rose replied. “I didn’t know those men.” She paced in a circle, her hands handcuffed behind her.

  Matt scowled. “Then why did you run? That’s what a guilty person does.”

  Rose walked closer to Matt and stared at him. “I ran because innocent people like me get convicted of murder all the time. I hoped if I hid out that you would do your job and find the actual killers.”

  “I am doing my job. Back up Mrs. O’Ryan and don’t move,” Matt said angrily.

  Matt’s scowl deepened and he turned to me. “You crossed the line, Liz. You can’t impede our investigation and put yourself at risk to boot.”

  My blood pressure spiked and I felt a buzzing in my ears. “I didn’t impede anything! I asked Rose several times to turn herself in, but she declined.”

  “You could have called us when she contacted you,” he countered.

  “I wanted to hear whatever evidence she had. Furthermore, I felt I could persuade her to come back to Mystic Grove with me.”

  “I don’t suppose using your gun ever occurred to you,” Matt snapped.

  “I used my gun when the shooter attacked us. But no, I didn’t use my gun to force Rose to come back with me. I’m not convinced she’s guilty!” I shouted.

  Matt’s face was beet red and he made a growling noise.

  I heard a clapping noise and we both looked at Rose. Both of her arms flexed. “It’s hard to applaud wh
en you’re handcuffed,” she said and smiled at me. I laughed.

  Newmont returned and asked, “Everything okay?”

  “Everything is grand,” Matt replied and gave me a dark look. Then he turned to Newmont. “Find anything?”

  Newmont wore disposable gloves. He held up a clear evidence bag that contained a small box in a magnetic holder.

  “It’s a transmitter. I found it under Liz’s Mini Cooper, attached to the frame. The other car was clean,” Newmont said.

  “Damn,” I said. “Someone was tracking me?”

  Matt took the evidence bag and held it up, looking at the transmitter.

  “Liz, have you received threats of any sort lately?” Newmont asked. He handed me my car keys.

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “No letters, hang-up calls, cars following you?” Matt pressed.

  “No, nothing at all,” I replied.

  “Okay, Liz you need to come back to the station so we can fill out a report about the shooting. Newmont, let’s get Mrs. O’Ryan back to the station so we can chat. I’ll call the county sheriff and see if we can get some help in searching for evidence of the shooting. It’s almost dark, so we’ll have to wait until morning,” Matt said.

  Newmont nodded and gripped Rose’s arm. They walked toward the gate.

  “Rose, I’ll call your husband,” I said. “You might want to hold off on any conversation until he gets there with his attorney.”

  “Thanks Liz,” She called back.

  “Whose side are you on?” Matt asked as we walked out of the cemetery.

  I almost replied that I was on the side of the truth, but it sounded corny.

  Instead, I said, “It’s the right thing to do.”

  ***

  I followed Matt Durand’s car back to the Mystic Grove police department.

  When I worked on a case, I always put every contact’s name and telephone number into my phone. So I was able to call Eric O’Ryan from my car. He almost sounded relieved that Rose had been found and was safe. When I suggested he go over to the police station with his lawyer, Jeff Mueller, he agreed and hung up on me.

  At the station, I got a cup of hot coffee and waited in a small interview room. I texted Newmont the information about the audio file Rose had shared with me. An hour later, Matt joined me and completed a report about the shooting.