by Kieran York
Royce laughed at the undersheriff’s remarks, but replied that it was her mission. She told Nick she firmly believed they might have a chance at finding the identity of the woman. Although it was admittedly a long shot, she also believed finding the perpetrator of this decades-old crime might be possible. The case had interested her father. That meant he must have believed it was solvable.
***
“The eyes and ears of Timber City,” Royce greeted Plato Wallace. “How’s my C.I. this morning?”
“Nobody heard the shot being fired, for sure. I checked. I been patrolling, Sheriff. A couple fellas thought it was ten or eleven. But it was just pops, not gun shots. Gun shots are mighty loud,” his words rushed. “But the music playing outta the Bell Ringer is always goin’. The second floor apartments sometimes have their music blaring up a storm.”
“You’ll find more information, Plato,” Royce encouraged.
Chance gave a restless moan. Plato petted her head. “Too bad this here dog of yours didn’t get hold of the killer.”
“It isn’t for want of trying. She loves roaming the streets. When I come out to do my rounds, she’s right there with me.” Royce paused. “Plato, I have an assignment. I’d like for you to keep an eye on Luther Sumner. He’s back in town, for the time being. He was a dangerous criminal when he was here years ago. He could be even more dangerous now. So be careful. Don’t take any chances.”
“Will do, Sheriff. Is he planning on stayin’?”
“He’s wanting to leave. But we don’t have the results back from his lie detector test. Until he clears the polygraph, he’s staying right here.”
Plato gave a half salute. “Got him in my sites, Sheriff.”
Royce walked around the corner. She saw that all the crime scene tape had been removed. The M.E., forensic team, and their crime photographer had finished evaluating the scene. They’d unsealed the premises.
Also astonishing Royce was the fact that Grace Wagner was already on scene with a cleaning crew, and the gun shop staff. She was barking orders as Royce approached.
“I was thinking you might keep the shop closed until after the funeral?” Royce said.
“Nita decided that after the body gets released, she’ll have him cremated. Tony and Emma don’t seem to care.” Her arms flagged, “Me, I’d rather he gets laid out proper. Have him in a burial place. Nice and comfy in the church cemetery. But no, miss chorus girl, Nita, suggested they spread his ashes near the Crossing. She said it was what Cal once mentioned to her.”
“Maybe Cal wanted that kind of remembrance.”
Grace looked at the sheriff incredulously. “I doubt it. Nita also said it was one of her favorite riding area. Her up there on the steed rough riding all over Cal’s remains. Gives me the willies,” Grace commented with a shudder.
Royce held back her laughter. “I wonder what Cal would have thought about that?”
“He’d a had nothing to do with such a thing. But his ashes belong to her, so she can do what she pleases with him.” Grace cringed with contempt. “I’ve got my own troubles getting a new head gunsmith.”
“I thought Cal was training Tony to take over.”
“Tony likes playing with those little flying planes. Drones they call ‘em. But do you think he’d learn to be a craftsman with armament? Not if it was important to his father. He was mediocre with a craft that could make him a living. He had the perfect setup.”
“Not all children follow in their parent’s footsteps.” Royce was proud that she had become a deputy and eventually a sheriff, as her father had done.
Grace pursed her lips. “Emma is even better with guns than Tony. And she’s had precious little training. Cal said he wasn’t training a woman. He thought Emma would go off and have a baby. He also said women getting their period put them funny, and they wouldn’t be able to concentrate on fixing guns.”
Although Royce was quiet, and unassuming, her frown was visible. She rarely showed her emotion. She was speechless for a moment, but her jaw dropped. “Cal actually said that?” she finally questioned.
“He did. Tony is his son. Neither of them have ever respected women. They like being tough men. Manly men. Guns, and straight whiskey.”
“I don’t believe bigotry is a gender or an age. Unfortunately, it seems to take root in a heart. It can’t be excused by the times. Well, that’s my theory.” Royce had known several of the men in Timber County with the same disregard for women. Folks said it was because of their age and the times in which they lived. Countering, the sheriff knew many men born in that era that were respectful, as well as supportive.
Grace’s emotions seemed to always reflect disinterest, as well as boredom. “Any news on finding the murderer?”
“Nothing of interest. Grace, CBI mentioned that you told them that your security cameras weren’t turned on. Or weren’t working. What could have been the reason for that?”
“When it came to business, Cal was tight. Downright stingy. The security system was old junk. Tapes. They’d been wiped clean.”
“Where are the security cameras?”
“Camera.” She pointed up at the southwest corner of the store. It was near the entryway. “One camera. He said there wasn’t need for more. He didn’t want one in the back office, and workroom. He probably used the office for bedding his whores. Late nights. I’d be home taking care of his kids and he was here fornicating. Probably too danged cheap to take the whores to a hotel.” She motioned to follow her. “I’ll show you the little closet in the back where the equipment is.”
Following behind the shuffling stutter-steps of Grace to the backroom, Royce surveyed the stockpile of guns. Grace threw back the door of the closet that housed the security station. It was one single, antiquated tape machine. “It’s a broom closet,” Royce said.
“Not much room.” She turned on the overhead light. “See, Cal would come in here every morning, and if the place hadn’t been ransacked, he would erase and rewind the tape. Most of the time he never bothered turning the unit back on until he was ready to leave the shop. Figured if someone committed a burglary, he’d have it as evidence. But he often forgot to even rewind it. Sometimes he went days without setting the danged thing up.”
“What if there would have been an armed robbery?”
“Remember, he was the man who always said no one would dare rob him. The place was filled with protection. He thought he was Clint Eastwood.”
“So the tape is empty?”
“Empty. But the CBI fellas took it with them. They couldn’t believe that a gun shop had such crappy surveillance equipment. They didn’t know what a miserable old skinflint Cal was.”
“If there had been a robbery, there could have been casualties. Cal was taking a chance with such an antiquated system. When I saw the camera, I figured it was for show and you had dozens hidden around.”
“Oh, I’m getting a system put in. Don’t you worry. Once bitten, twice shy.”
“I’m amazed that Cal didn’t have a first class security system.”
“Cal liked to impress people. If it didn’t show, it didn’t matter. Tony is just like him. All those cars that kid buys – all show. Cal taught him to act like a billionaire. Tony didn’t get his ego from me. Wish I could have given him a little more direction. Cal wanted him to have self-confidence.”
“What about Emma?”
“She never impressed him.”
Royce’s smile slowly built. She wanted to say what a bigot Cal must have been, but she settled for saying, “I remember; she was a girl. She never mattered.”
“Not like Tony.” Grace shut the closet door. “I don’t know what more I can tell you, Sheriff.”
“I just wanted to know what kind of a man Cal really was. I think I’ve got my answer.”
Grace gave a loud guffaw. “Cal always said he was his own man. When we were young and I had stars in my eyes, I liked that expression. I soon came to hate it. As our marriage continued, I came to hate it even more. The re
ason I didn’t want a divorce wasn’t because I enjoyed him. It was because I gave a damn what the town thought, and it would be hard on the kids. Splitting up homes, and the business. It wouldn’t have done the family any good. If it hadn’t been for those reasons, I’d a been long gone. By the time Nita was in the picture, I was ready to leave him.”
Nodding, Royce turned and walked toward the front door. The stars in Grace’s eyes had definitely been extinguished. Before exiting, the sheriff said, “Thanks for your time, Grace.”
Greeting Chance, who had been waiting patiently on the sidewalk, Royce leaned down and scratched the shepherd’s ears. “News flash. Calvin Wagner was no Clint Eastwood.”
***
“Plenty amazing,” Royce exclaimed into her phone. The lie detector expert had the results of the polygraph. Luther Sumner had not killed Calvin. But there was deceit in some of his responses about his other activities. Auxiliary questions were always used to gauge the subject’s emotional response. After his session, Luther had complained bitterly about having been asked question that weren’t pertaining to the murder. He had grumbled to the technician as he left the courthouse.
Royce immediately instructed one of the deputies to roust Luther. He was instructed to bring the felon to the interrogation room. Royce would be waiting. She could hear the husky man bellowing down the hall. Luther barreled toward the sheriff.
“Have a seat, Luther,” she pointed to the opposite seat at a small table. With file and papers in front of her, she fanned the file open. She motioned for the deputy to leave. “The testing showed you aren’t responsible for killing Cal.”
Luther’s glare was that of a very angered panther. “You brought me over here to tell me I didn’t kill Cal? Am I free to go?”
“I brought you in to tell you the polygraph results for that question was that you were telling the truth. However, the other couple of questions showed deceit.”
“Damn it, you snuck those questions in. You can’t do that. I was so fucking mad that you went off script that I probably was stressed by that. You vied off from the reason you wanted to question me. That’s probably why I failed on a question or two on the test.”
“Pretty important questions. Were you implicated in any way? Your answer of no was deceitful. Do you know who killed Cal? Another no answer found to be deceitful.” Royce turned a page. “No need to go on. The only one you didn’t fail was that you were not the killer.” Closing the file, she slapped it on the desk. “So let’s not waste one another’s time. Who killed Calvin Wagner? How were you implicated?”
His glassy stare ahead was combative. He finally replied, “I didn’t kill him. That’s all. I don’t know who killed Cal.”
“Your speculation?”
“I’ve already told you. Crazy Otis. That’s who probably killed Cal.”
“Luther, I’ve got a bit of bad news about your speculation. Otis did better on his polygraph than you did on yours. His deception came out zero.”
“You’ve got no evidence against me. If you’re keeping me here, I want my lawyer.” His irritability was turning to treachery.
“I’m not charging you with anything. Yet. But stick around. And next time I call you in, bring your lawyer with you. I’m sure you and your auto supply shop in Dallas have an attorney on retainer.” Royce had indeed checked in Big D. She found that Luther’s company was under scrutiny by all the major agencies. Smuggling, drugs were at the top of the list. The Feds just hadn’t found what they need to implicate him. Royce challenged, “You’re up to your neck in dirty deals, Luther, so your attorney must be earning his or her keep.”
Luther leaned across the table. “My brother tried to kill you. Too bad he missed.” His jaw clenched.
“He missed by a mile. Your worthless brother rotted in prison. So if you’re using his playbook to get me out of your way, you might die in prison, too.”
“If I want you dead. I won’t miss by a mile.” His eyes broke contact with hers. “I won’t miss at all.”
“Get out of here, Luther. Stay in Timber until I’ve found the killer of Calvin Wagner. Don’t violate the law. Or I’m coming for you.”
Walking to the door, Luther turned. His laugh was raw and vicious.
Chapter 8
Royce felt the tug of her intuition. She had a strong longing to learn more about Tony and Nita’s alibi.
The Elk County fire had been formally deemed as one hundred percent contained. Firefighters from all parts of the nation would be having a small exit parade at noon. Royce and the deputies that helped were invited to the ceremony honoring all who assisted in putting out the fire. Structures were saved, and land was saved. More importantly, lives were saved, including families, livestock, and wildlife.
Going to the parade was a perfect excuse for Royce to also return to the Wagner Ranch. She could say she was just passing by. Royce had learned from the past that the continual press of the law against suspects lowered their resistance.
Nita and Tony both had alibis. They were one another’s alibi. For some kind of affection? But what kind of affection, Royce questioned as she pulled her Ford Interceptor into the driveway. It didn’t appear that there was a friendship, much less a love of stepmother for stepson, and vice versa.
That was quickly confirmed. Nita met her at the door. She was screaming into her phone. “I don’t give a rat’s ass what you think. Those damned drones aren’t supposed to be flown around here. There’s bare land to wreck your damned drones. You bug my champion horses. You even annoy the wildlife. Tony, it spooks my horses. Go out to the Crossing. It’s just over the ridge, you lazy brat.” With a quick snap of the button, she shrugged as she glanced across the room at Royce. “Tony is useless. Cal didn’t discipline him. So now it’s too late. I’m stuck with him.”
“He’s in his late twenties.”
Nita whirled around. Her arm gestures swept outward. “Cal and I both were praying for a woman for him to marry, so she could take him off our hands. Well, as soon as my money comes in, and I have title to the ranch, I’m going to boot his worthless ass off my ranch. He’s outrageous!”
Royce agreed, “I imagine it would be difficult having him around.”
“Yes. What was it you wanted?” Nita gave a pull on the sleeve of her peach designer blouse.
“I really wanted to talk with Tony. He was in a hurry last time I was here. Have you heard, or thought of anything that might be of interest to me?”
“Tony and I both think the killer is Otis. That crotchety old-timer has never even said hello to me. I was married to his enemy. Yes, he killed Cal. He was the one pissed off about his precious gun. Well, he thought it was precious. Who knows? Cal was the expert. He never said much about it, other than it was valuable and he’d like to own it. He kept letting the repair charges mount up. Cal was sly about that. I’m sure he wanted to let Otis dig a hole. Then Cal could take the gun as collateral. And finally demand payment. He would then own the gun. Some would call it stealing it.” She threw her head back laughing. “Most would call it thieving.”
“You’re saying that Cal’s business ethics might be a tad spotted?” Royce asked.
“He wasn’t exactly a thief, but he sure as hell pushed the envelope. I cared about the guy. I knew what I was getting into. Calvin could be hard as flint.”
“Did he know what he was getting into by marrying you?”
She glanced down at her own shapely body. “Damn betcha he did.”
Royce’s lips lifted slightly. “Then everyone was satisfied?”
“He was.” Her eyes radiated the thrill of divulging her sexuality. “Oh yes!”
“And you, were you satisfied?”
“Look around. What woman wouldn’t be satisfied?”
“Grace.”
“She’s a story and a half. I know she hates me. I just feel sorry for her. She’s plain, dull, boring…” She paused. “She’s pure housewife material. I may have been Calvin’s dolly wife, but he enjoyed me.”
“According to Grace, he enjoyed her when she was young.”
Dismissively she asked, “Can I get you something, Sheriff? Maybe we can sit out on the deck if you have more questions. Do you ride?”
“I have ridden. Recently in fact.”
“Of course, I read it in the paper about you and a veterinarian saving those horses. So I guess you really do ride. Well, feel free to come out here anytime and you can ride a champion horse. I’m mad about horses.”
“Thanks, but I’m really very busy right now. I’m on my way in to Elk for the firefighter’s parade. I’m also out of questions. So I’ll be leaving. If you can think of anything that would help the case, let me know.”
“Sure.”
Royce noted that Nita was more relaxed and real with this series of questions. Royce planned to continue on gaining the socialite’s trust. Nick would undoubtedly call that Royce’s good sheriff routine.
***
Elk Ridge, Colorado was festive. In spite of all that was lost, they were celebratory that the fire had been extinguished.
As the various firefighters and their vehicles passed by on their way out of Elk County, Colorado, the appreciative residents stood at the side of the road and cheered. There were shouts, squeals, cheers, and applause. As well as the interchange of gratitude, there were those with tears on their faces. Royce waved at a few of the men and women she’d met during the wildfire. There were brave members of firehouses throughout the country. There were those that contributed their time and energy to saving as much of the Colorado wilderness as they could.
TV units were also lining the route. Cameras rolled, as the parade continued. Signs telling of the thanks of this small mountain town waved. The placards praised the work, diligence, and heroism that brought the fire under control. Lives were saved, as was as much of the lovely forest as was possible.
