Death on Mt Pleasant

by Steve McMillen

  She ponders the questions for a few seconds and then answers, “Danny, now you’re making sense. If you answer my questions, I will be happy to give you a head start. I figure the authorities will catch you eventually, anyway. You have my word.”

  Danny begins. “Well, everything was fine until the State Police showed up and arrested me and a couple of guys just days after we had repainted the boat and changed the name and made some changes to the interior. I guess the owner of the boat had placed a GPS transponder somewhere on the boat and they tracked it to our location.”

  He pauses and Stephanie points the gun at his kneecap. “Don’t stop now, Danny, you’re doing fine.”

  “Well, so we are stuck with a $150,000 loan from some not very nice people as well as investing about $7,500 of our own money. We get out on bail and decide we had better find those women and see if we can get our money back.”

  “Who is ‘We?’ I need names.”

  “Harry Martin and Vandy Guthridge.”

  “And where might they be found?”

  “Harry manages a strip club in Charleston and Vandy runs a charter fishing service not far from here. Harry was the one who found the financing for us and Vandy was the one who set up the rental boat to get the girls to Key West.”

  “Did you find the girls?”

  “Yes, Vandy got in contact with his contacts in Key West where the girls dropped off the boat. One of them had a girlfriend who worked at the airport, and once he gave her their descriptions and about when they may have gone to the airport, she found where each of them had gone. We traced each of them to a different part of the Caribbean.”

  “And what happened once you found them?”

  “Well, all I wanted to do was force them to give us the cash we had given them, but Vandy and Harry said they didn’t want to leave any witnesses. They killed each of them after we found them and got whatever money we could get. I had nothing to do with the killing.”

  Stephanie’s finger starts to put pressure on the trigger of her weapon but she eases off. She needs more information. “How much money did you get from them?”

  “Let’s see, altogether about $100,000, which we promptly paid to our banker. We still owe them almost $70,000, including interest.”

  “So Danny, where exactly do Harry and Vandy work?” She has a rather serene tone to her question.

  “Harry is the manager of The Ultimate Gentleman’s Club in Charleston and Vandy owns Local Deep Sea Fishing Charters about two miles south of here. I’ve answered all your questions, now can you just let me have a short head start before you call the cops?”

  “You know what Danny, I’ve decided not to call the cops, and I lied about not killing you.”

  Danny gets a horrified look on his face but before he can scream, he is dead. The empty plastic bottle works well. There is hardly a sound.

  Chapter 25: Kevin is Gone

  Kevin has been taking his new pain pills for about three days now and they seem to be doing a great job of relieving his headache pain. The only downside is that his stomach has been acting up and he has lost his appetite as well. He has been thinking about what he should do about Donna Crist but he can’t seem to come up with anything.

  He leaves the office around five and just as he gets to his car, his cell rings. It’s the unknown caller. “Kevin, I haven’t heard any news about Donna Crist having had an accident. What are you waiting for?”

  “Look, I have not been feeling well. My stomach has been upset. As soon as I get better, I’ll take care of the problem.”

  The caller hesitates. “You know what, Kevin, why don’t you come back up to the park and I will have some medicine for your stomach waiting for you, as well as some more pain pills. Look in the trash container again.”

  Kevin does not relish the drive back up to the park; however, the idea of more free pain pills overwhelms him.

  He arrives at the park before six but has to wait in his car because several people are talking not far from the trash container. Five minutes later, they leave, and he hurries to the container and finds another plastic bag with a brown paper bag inside. He takes it back to his car and opens it. Inside he finds another container of pills and some sort of green liquid in a small plastic bottle. He takes the lid off and it smells like mint. He reads the note attached. It says to take two tablespoons twice a day. He feels so bad he decides to take a swig right now. He does so and his stomach does begin to feel better, almost a numbing sensation. He closes his eyes and leans his head back. Seconds later, he begins to cough, and spots of blood spew from his mouth and nose. Two minutes after that, he slumps over the steering wheel and dies.

  The unknown caller, after seeing no one is around, walks over to the car and retrieves the bottle of pills, the plastic bottle with the green liquid, and the paper bag. He leaves several pain pills on the front seat, leaves the park, and thinks about another way to get rid of Donna Crist.

  Chapter 26: Suicide or Murder

  At eight that same evening, I get a call from big Steve. “I know who owns your mystery boat, but before I tell you, where were you between five and seven this evening?”

  He catches me off guard with his question. “Well, let me think, I was in my room until about six and then I went downstairs and had dinner. Why are you asking?”

  “I suppose someone can vouch for you being at dinner?”

  “Detective, why are you asking me these questions, has something happened?”

  “You might say that. The Sheriff’s Department discovered an employee of the newspaper dead in his car just west of Pickerington. He was one of Sissy’s assistant editors.”

  I hesitate and then ask, “Was his name Kevin?”

  “Bingo. Did you know him?”

  “I spoke with him several days ago about Sissy’s computer but I did not know him. Was he murdered?”

  “Not sure yet, but there were no wounds on the body. Could have been suicide or natural causes. They found prescription pain pills in the car. What were you trying to find out from him?”

  “Donna Crist told me that he had told her that someone with a warrant came into the office the day after Sissy was found dead and took her computer. I was trying to find out who that was.”

  “Did he tell you?”

  “No, said he had no idea who the person was and he abruptly ended our conversation. So tell me, who owns the boat?”

  “It’s registered to Wilmont Oil & Gas Company.”

  “Interesting. Thanks detective, got to go. I have another call coming in. I’ll call you back?”

  Donna is the new caller. She almost sounds like she’s ready to cry. “I just heard from a friend at the newspaper that they found Kevin dead up around Pickerington. Have you heard anything?”

  “Settle down Dee Dee, I just heard the news from my detective friend at the police department. Sounds like it could be suicide.” I think for a few seconds and then ask, “Do you have someone you can visit out of town for a little while?”

  “Why would I want to do that?” There’s silence for several seconds. “Oh, my God, do you think he was murdered?” Donna has become hysterical. “Do you think someone may want to kill me?”

  I try to reassure her, although diplomacy has never been one of my strong suits. “I didn’t say that. I’m just saying why take a chance. Just go away for a couple of days until this case is solved or it blows over.”

  Donna eventually calms down. “I have a sister who lives up at Lakeside on Lake Erie. Maybe I’ll go visit her for a few days. Will you call me and tell me when it is safe to come back?”

  “You have my word, but I want you to pack up and leave tonight.”

  “Thanks Mickke D, I see why Sissy thought so much of you.”

  “So, now listen to me. Call me when you get there.”

  Stuart Peterson easily finds out where Donna Crist lives and watches as she leaves her home with a small suitcase. Is this a planned road trip or did someone tell her about Kevin? He pulls out behind
her and follows.

  Chapter 27: Revenge #2

  Stephanie ponders her next move as she quietly sits in her rented car in the parking lot of Local Deep Sea Fishing Charters. It’s almost 7, it looks like the office is closed, and there are no vehicles in the parking lot. She figures the body of Danny Dykes won’t be found until tomorrow morning, so she needs to complete her business tonight and get back to Antigua as soon as possible. She is feeling remorseful and responsible for the death of her friends because she had made the arrangements and sent them to the marina to sell TC’s boat.

  Just as she is about to start her car and leave, a car pulls into the parking area and the front door of the office opens. She slides down in her seat and peers over the steering wheel. A man appears from the office and walks toward the car. The man leans into the driver’s side window and has a conversation with the driver. She can’t see who is driving the car but the conversation becomes heated. The man pulls back from the car and the car quickly leaves the parking lot. The man yells something, gives the finger to the departing car, and then walks back toward the building.

  Stephanie takes advantage of the situation and rolls down her window. She calls out, “Excuse me, is the office closed? I wanted to talk to someone about a charter.”

  The man turns, sees Stephanie, and answers, “Yeah, sure, come on in.”

  Stephanie follows the man into the building and he points to a chair in front of his desk. “So, what can I help you with?” he asks with a sly, leering grin on his face.

  Stephanie frowns. “I wasn’t sure you were open and I was about to leave when I saw that car come in and you came out of the building Mr…..?”

  “Sorry, here’s my card. Vandy Guthridge. Now what do you need, a short charter or an all-day one?”

  “You didn’t seem very happy with the person in that car. Is this a bad time?”

  “Look lady, what can I do for you? I have places to go and people to see.”

  “Ok, Mr. Guthridge, or should I call you Vandy?”

  He is getting impatient. “What the hell makes the difference; just tell me what you want.”

  “Well, Vandy this is not your lucky day. You see. I have come here to kill you just like you helped to kill those three girls who brought a 46-foot Carver to the marina a couple of months ago. Do you remember them?”

  Vandy is speechless for several seconds. “What are you talking about lady, are you smoking wacky tabaccey?”

  She pulls the Glock from her pocket and points it at him. “No Vandy, I’m fine. Do you recognize this gun? It used to belong to Danny but now Danny doesn’t need it anymore.”

  “Holy shit. That’s Danny’s gun. Hey, Harry and Danny killed those girls. I had nothing to do with it.”

  “That’s funny Vandy, because Danny said it was you and Harry. I’ll just bet Harry will say it was you and Danny.”

  Stephanie pulls out the second empty soda bottle from the pocket of her light jacket and the duct tape. As she begins to tape the bottle around the weapon, Vandy starts to get up. “Sit down, Vandy.”

  Vandy sits down as Stephanie finishes her work. “Now you can get up.” As he stands up, she pulls the trigger and puts a hole through his heart. He slumps back down in the chair. “Vandy, when you see Danny in hell, be sure and tell him the empty soda bottle still works. Hardly a sound.”

  She wipes down any prints she may have left and puts the “closed” sign on the inside of the door as she leaves. Next stop, Charleston.

  Chapter 28: Call to Jim

  My mind is going around in circles. Which direction do I go first? Kevin is dead, and I think Ginny Ridlinger is running around Buckeye Lake in a boat owned by Wilmont Oil & Gas. So, what has the director of public relations at Anchor Hocking have to do with Wilmont Oil & Gas? In addition, why was someone on that boat spying on me at The Winery the other night? In addition, did that have anything to do with someone sending Paul Bunyan and friends to pummel Jake and me?

  It’s time to give Jim another call. “Hey big guy, I need some more info on Von Spineback. See if you can find out if he was ever in the Armed Forces and if so, which branch.”

  He sarcastically answers, “No problem. How are things going up there? Shot anyone recently?”

  “Very funny, keep that up and I’ll forget about your OSU stuff.”

  “Oh don’t do that, I’ll get right back to you.”

  Ten minutes later, he calls back. “Von Spineback did a short tour in the Air Force. Anything else?”

  “Thanks Jim, that will do for now.”

  I wonder if that’s where Ginny met Von. Now I need to figure out if there is a relationship between the two.

  One of the only things I have learned about women after being married to three of them is that they tell their hairdressers everything. Nothing is sacred when they’re getting their hair done. I wonder who does Ginny’s hair.

  Chapter 29: Stuart Attacks

  Stuart has been following Donna Crist at a safe distance for almost an hour on busy interstates and outer belts until she finally turns off on Route 4, a two-lane road leading north to Lake Erie.

  Donna has been listening to classical music and thinking about different things she and her sister will do while visiting for a couple of days. She has no idea that the same set of headlights has been following her since she turned off on Route 4.

  Stuart notices that traffic has almost disappeared on this straight stretch of highway. It is time to make his move. He eases his Hummer closer to his prey’s vehicle, and when he sees no oncoming lights and nothing behind him, he pounces. He pulls out to pass and as his front right fender is close to her left rear fender, he bumps her car.

  Donna is stunned. At sixty miles per hour, she has no time to react. Her vehicle all of sudden begins to spin and as her tires touch the loose gravel on the edge of the road, the car flips over and tumbles three or four times before coming to rest on its top in a ditch next to a fence.

  Stuart slows and shines a spotlight located on the roof of his vehicle on the wrecked car. He notices a limp arm dangling from the driver’s side shattered window and what looks like blood dripping down. He smiles and continues north for about a mile, turns around, and heads back toward the scene of the crash. He observes another vehicle at the crash scene. He figures he should stop and make sure she is dead but just as he slows down another vehicle pulls up. He does not slow down and continues on his way back to Columbus. He curses aloud. He should have made sure she was dead. About a mile down the road, he watches as an EMS vehicle and fire truck pass him and head toward the scene of the accident.

  Chapter 30: Donna is Missing

  It’s 11:00 and I have not heard a word from Donna. She should have been there by now. I call her cell phone but no one answers. At 11:30, I call again but still no answer. I call big Steve, knowing he is going to read me the riot act.

  “Mickke D, do you have any idea what time it is? Some of us have to get up early in the morning and go to work. What the hell do you want?”

  “Sorry Steve, but I have been trying to call Donna Crist for the last hour and she doesn’t answer her phone. I told her to leave town for a while and she was on her way to Lakeside up on Lake Erie. She was the one who told me about Kevin, and of course we know what happened to him.”

  “No Mickke D, we don’t know what happened to him. He could have killed himself. And what do you expect me to do at 11:30 at night, go up to Lakeside and try to find her?”

  I pause and then reply, “Hey detective, I’m sorry I bothered you.” I hang up hoping he will call me back. I wait and wait and wait and now I’m not sure if I played this the right way.

  Twenty minutes later, my phone rings. I was right. Big Steve was calling me back. “You knew I’d call back, didn’t you?”

  I hesitate and try to sound unconcerned. “No, but I was sure hoping you would. Did you find out anything?”

  “I checked with the local Highway Patrol office and they said there was an accident on Route 4 ab
out two hours ago. They found a car in the ditch on its top and the driver was identified as Donna Crist.”

  “Oh, my God, is she okay?” I ask with despair in my voice.

  “She is alive but in serious condition. The doctors think she will make it.”

  “Thank God. Any idea what happened?”

  “There were no witnesses and she has not gained consciousness. I’ll let you know when I hear something.”

  It’s time for a left jab. “Now do you believe me that there is something going on?”

  He quickly counters, “Look, I’ll admit things don’t look right, but there is absolutely no hard evidence that a crime has been committed. Let’s wait until I get the autopsy report on Kevin and then when we get a chance to talk to Donna Crist.”

  “Which hospital was she taken to? Do you have a guard with her?” I ask.

  “She’s at Doctor’s Hospital in Bucyrus, and no they don’t have a guard with her.”

  “Well, if I’m right and someone is trying to kill her, a guard would be a real good idea. If you’re right then no guard is required, but what if you’re wrong?”

  “Okay, I’ll call and have them post a guard at her room. Will that make you happy? Now can I go back to sleep?”

  “Thanks, detective. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  I go directly to bed but sleeping does not come easy. I toss and turn most of the night. I get up and read for a while but that also doesn’t work. Finally, about four in the morning I doze off. I have nightmares of claymore mines going off, of planes blowing up, and trucks slowly sinking in a swamp. I don’t wake up until 10 the next morning when the maid knocks on my door. I am bathed in sweat. I yell at her, “please come back later!”

  Chapter 31: Stuart is Back

  After reading in the paper the next morning that Donna Crist was admitted to Doctor’s Hospital in Bucyrus, Stuart decides to make a visit to the hospital to check on his still- alive victim. If he had only finished the job correctly last night, he would not have to be doing this now.