Murder Mysteries Series six

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  Walking into his office Rory saw a pleasant looking man of middle age wearing a bow tie and a light wool summer suit. He was the appitamy of an Englishman complete with English manners. Two chairs sat facing his desk and he waited until both were seated until he sat down. His hands folded in front of him as he looked at first one then the other. He focused longer on Stacy and waited for her to speak. "Mr. Swarms, we understand you are the attorney of record for Clyde Keystone and family."

  "Indeed I am Marshalls. We met a few years ago when I first arrived here looking for an office to rent. We seem to fit each other and soon I was here in this office with an open sign on my door. He helped me with some friends of his and after a hardship breakup of some lawyers in the Coos Bay area; I took over his legal business. I think I know why you're here and have in front of me his latest will and testament. As they say in today's vernacular, I'll cut to the chase and tell you that his will is not so complicated. It states upon his death -- he leaves his entire estate to his wife Agnes Keystone. Also in the event of her death, it states that his shop and factory will go to Raymond Foreham his entire inventory of myrtlewood and the land where it grows. The remainder goes to Ellen Weeks."

  "There isn't any mention of the two offspring Mr. Swarms," asked Stacy.

  "Well frankly speaking no there isn't any mention of either of them in his latest testament. I will say that in his former will he left some of him wealth to his two children. Additionally I will say that Mr. Keystone expected a protest of his last will, but I believe it's as rock solid as the wonderful sea stacks that adorn the coast. Any other questions Marshalls?"

  "Did he ever mention in passing or directly of being in any danger or of someone threatening him?"

  "He mentioned that of the two of his children his daughter would be the one to challenge his will. However, he never mentioned her as being violent towards him or his wife."

  Rory asked, "How about your next door neighbor Felix Wilson. Did Cliff ever mention his name as being threatening towards him?"

  "Yes, he did. It's common knowledge that the man is or has a short fuse. His wife came to me one time and wanted me to press charges against him. I told her she needed to file a complaint against him and that I would be happy to help her in any way I could. However, when it came time for her to file a complaint at the police station, she backed out. I never heard from her again."

  "We thank you for your time and information Mr. Swarms. If we need anything else would it be okay to phone you for any additional questions," Stacy asked standing up.

  Clyde Swarms quickly stood up and said, "My yes of course you are welcome anytime. He was a fine man and from what I observe, a fair man at that. One must expect in today's business world if the taxes are increased, so goes the rent."

  Back in the SUV Stacy gave Ben a call. While she was doing that Rory said, "We'd best get a look-see at Pam's husband. Also we need to visit the Rawlings clan." Stacy looked at him when Ben answered Stacy's call.

  "I'm at the station Stacy writing up a report on one Felix Wilson. I'm about finished so what might you have in mind?"

  "Pam Binder has a husband named Alan Binder, age forty-one who lives in Coos Bay with insurance offices in Coos Bay, Coquille and Bandon. We're off to visit the Rawlings family. After we finish we'll go to my old office at the station house. I presume you already know that Karen has submitted her resignation and dad's coming back?"

  "In a small town, or even in a big city, few secrets exist within an organization. I'm sure your father being the professional he is, will take it in stride. He might not like it, but it's hard to shake the responsibility he possesses. He can put in short hours and I think we should help him find a new Chief."

  "Let's do that and as Rory had and has trouble finding even a deputy, a chief must be very hard to find. Especially in a small town like Bandon. I'm going to mention it to Connie back in DC. She might know some law enforcement personnel that might want to take life in a slow lane for a while. Anyway, find out what you can about our prime suspects husband."

  After closing her phone Stacy said, while they drove slowly up the hill to New Town and then on south to Walt Rawling's tourist shop and factory, "Let's stop by the station house and call first. I want to have the entire family available and as that will give them time to compare notes, so much the better for us. If the answers to our questions come quickly then we know they are probably lying. Besides they already know we're coming. It's a given that they realize they are suspects from the past history between the two families."

  Rory was just pulling into the parking lot when Stacy said, "Looks like my father is here to probably make arrangements to take over. Fran I know will be most unhappy with this new turn of events," as they walked got out of the vehicle.

  15

  As they walked in, Karen was walking to the front door with a scowl on her face. Rory held the door open as she quick stepped out of the station house. Stacy kept walking and looked into the Chief's office seeing her father at the desk with pencil and legal pad looking like he'd never left. Stacy gave a quiet knock on the door jamb. Ray looked up and nodded to his daughter to come in. Stacy took a chair across from his desk while her father kept his eyes on her. He said, "Like old times huh?"

  Stacy caught the sarcasm and replied, "This is just temporary dad. Hang in there and we'll find someone to take your place. Besides, maybe it's time to elevate James and hire another patrol officer."

  "Okay, I agree with you on James, but where are you going to find a sucker to run this station in a town of less than two thousand souls?"

  "I'm calling Connie back east and she'll find some person who wants to retire on the west coast rather than play golf in Florida."

  He smiled and went back to his pencil and legal pad saying, "Let's hope so Stacy. I'm wishing like hell that Fran will be alright with this new situation. We're committed to our restaurant, along with our intention to marry, and I'm happy with my wood shop. This just isn't what I thought I'd be doing just now."

  Stacy took the opportunity to sit down and talk with her father without any interruptions. He was watching her and realized she needed to talk about something personal. He waited patiently, like a good father should do, then he heard her say, "I'm having a little trouble dad with accepting Fran as a stepmother. I know I shouldn’t be bothered by you finding another person to share your life with. Now I like Fran a lot and think she is or will make you a good companion, but I need to think of her as Fran and not as a person who might think they need to replace my maternal mother. Am I making sense father?"

  "Ray watched his daughter squirm a little in her chair and then he gazed upon her with love pouring out of his metal grey eyes, into the identical eyes of his only offspring. He quietly said, "Fran too was nervous about you and her when we married. I told her nothing should or would change just because we decided to marry according to God's law. She promised not to treat you or be any different now than after we are married. You can call her Fran and she'll call you Stacy. Never mind and we're all old enough not to let petty things interfere with our lives. Now what else is on your complex mind?"

  "We've so many suspects father that it's hard to sort them out at the present time. We talked to the accountant and lawyer who both have made his business and life very clear to us. Ben talked to that Felix dude who seems violent in nature. Rory and I are about to embark upon a group interview with the Rawling's family. Dad – I do have – well – this is not good news – but did you know Cliff had a girlfriend of many years?"

  "I knew he did, but didn't know. Dan confided in me many or some years ago about him visiting Cliff one night. I thought it best to let sleeping dogs lie. He told me later what he asked Dan to do and apologized for being deceitful. He also told me Agnes probably knew, but like a good traditional wife, kept her mouth shut thinking it was only just a fling."

  "I can tell you father," as she looked towards the door seeing it was firmly closed, "He left Ellen Weeks a small fortune and completel
y cut the two kids out of his will. That is if and when Agnes Keystone passes on. I've put a deputy sheriff on her door at the clinic for protection just in case."

  Ray had ceased his pencil/paper phobia and was looking off into space thinking of the ramification of what he just heard from his daughter. Simply put, this news put Agnes in grave danger if and or when Cody and his sister Pam discovered they were not part of, or mentioned, in the family will of Cliff Keystone. Could it be possible that one or both already knew about the latest will and testament of Cliff and Agnes Keystone? He turned slightly to look at his daughter who had remained still while her father digested the information. He asked:

  "Stacy, what about the husband of Pam Binder?"

  "Ben is on that errand at this very moment. It would seem that neither Cody, Pam, Felix, and we've yet to interview the Rawlings, have an alibi for the time of death. Well, Chief Foreham, newly placed back in your old job, welcome back," she said with a twisted chagrin walking out to a waiting Rory for a trip south to the, what Rory's was calling the "McCoys".

  In her old office Rory and Stacy sat at the conference table discussing how to handle the interview upcoming with the Rawlings family. Rory said, "Here is what and who we have for our interviews. First we have Walt Rawlings age about sixty-six who rules with an iron hand. His wife Bonnie, the second in command, does her husbands' bidding. There're two boys, Andy forty-two and Arty the youngest at thirty-eight. Both boys are chips off the old block Walter. Their reputation in the myrtlewood industry is one of thievery and deceit. Rumor has it that since the crash of 2008, the tourist trade has suffered on all fronts.

  But let's not forget that the feud between Cliff Keystone and Walt Rawlings has been going on for decades. So if they did murder Cliff, why now and not – say—in the last bunch of years since the tourist trade took a dive. Or maybe, just maybe, they were desperate and in financial trouble. I think while you contemplate our upcoming interview, I'll call Rhonda and get her to do a financial on the Rawlings group."

  Stacy had been listening closely and went into her 'zone' of thinking as Rory went to the window to call Rhonda up at his office where she'd become his secretary. He smiled thinking what a treasure she was and felt nothing from stealing her away from the State Police in Portland. While talking to her Rory looked out the window seeing the evergreen pine trees swaying to the rhythm of the onshore wind from the Pacific Ocean. And with the wind came the rain. It was turning out a nasty May on the Southern Coast of Oregon. He said, "Rhonda we've another family for you to check on please." He gave her the list and then she said:

  "I've just received a check back on Alan and Pam Binder. It appears they are in financial trouble. For the last few years, expenses have far outweighed income. According to their banker Alan has his agencies on the market. A leading insurance company is seriously considering taking over, but even if sold would still leave a substantial outstanding debt load. The whole thing Rory screams of motive to me. But I'm just a lowly cog in our esteemed system." Rory heard the sarcasm in her voice, but only smiled thinking that someday this extremely intelligent woman would be one great investigator in her own right.

  "Thanks Rhonda and call me soonest with the Rawlings report." He turned away from the late spring storm making rivulets of water down the glass to see Stacy putting on her all weather coat. "I'm ready if you are Super. How about a snack before we venture south. Or maybe we should interview the Rawlings on an empty stomach?"

  Stacy nodded and said, "Being hungry might put some teeth into our interview. Let's go with growling bellies Tall Man." She stopped at the Chief's door and nodded to him they were leaving. It was not a good idea to enter a nest of vipers without somebody knowing where you were. Lastly their reputation preceded them. It was commonly known the Rawlings boys were midnight loggers up and down the coast from up north to Reedsport on the Umpqua River to south down into Crescent City, California.

  In the SUV driving south on Hwy 101 they had to pass by Cliff Keystone's shop and factory. As they went by Stacy called the clinic to see how Agnes Keystone was doing. The report was brief and to the point: no change and yes the deputy was at her door.

  "No change Tall man with Agnes and next stop is the Rawlings shop and factory. They've plenty of time to fabricate a story and it'll be hard to break their stories. I'd guess they've neighbors who will give alibis if needed. Well I see we're almost there now. I'm happy that they are only a few miles south of Cliff's place."

  Rory pulled into the gravel parking lot that with spring arriving the newly growing grass and weeds were evident in the parking lot. Like Cliff's place a shop was in front of a building just behind it. Smoke was trailing out of a tall metal chimney indicating there was probably somebody working in the factory. Also there were three vehicles seen. Two in the parking lot were cars and one pickup truck sat next to the factory. It was a late model 4x4 raised up dually with a tandem wheeled trailer attacked to it. This obviously was their myrtlewood hauler. "That truck and trailer is not cheap Super. I'd guess around fifty grand at least for both. I can't wait to see or hear about the background check on these guys," Rory said as he exited the SUV and following a fast walking Stacy to the front door of the tourist shop.

  The tiny door bells jangled as they entered the shop alerting someone that a customer or customers were present. Stacy noticed the pungent smell of incense as she slowly walked to the counter. It appeared nobody was around so that gave both time to look around a bit. What Stacy saw was pretty much the same as what was in Cliff and Agnes's shop. She wondered about the prices and how they compared with each other as a voice was heard saying: "Can I help you with something today?"

  Stacy had never met Bonnie Rawlings, but that ended when she turned and saw a grim faced woman that had the overall look of being worked and worked hard all her life. She was short with mouse brown hair streaked with grey. There wasn't an ounce of makeup on her wrinkled face. Her eyes held the observer with detest and hate. Stacy quickly gathered this woman knew who she was and knew who her tall associate was too. Stacy was ready with her ID and said, with equal malice in her voice, "I'm US Marshall Stacy Foreham and this is my associate US Marshall Rory Caltex. We'd like to ask you and your husband some questions concerning the death of Clifford Keystone. Where might we have a private interview Ms. Rawlings?"

  Pure hate radiated from Bonnie Rawlings as she said, through a mouth of almost invisible lips, "We're busy around her Marshall and have no time for chit chat. My husband is busy on a special time sensitive order and he's being helped by our two sons'. How about you make an appointment and come back another day?"

  Stacy was fuming inside as Rory walked over to save an ugly confrontation. But before he made a move he heard Stacy say, "You and your family are prime suspects in a murder investigation Ms. Rawlings. Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way. The easy way is to comply to our request to answer some questions here on this property or the hard way is to cart you off to the police station for questioning. I'll add this while I'm speaking, you have the right to an attorney and ………………"

  "Alright I get it. Follow me to the factory where we can talk," she said turning and with a slight limp went out the back door walking the fifty feet to the factory. Rory noticed how frumpy she appeared. He couldn't imagine that she would greet customers looking like a cleaning woman.

  Entering the woodworking factory, they saw the old man Walt sitting in a wooden rocker near the wood stove. The two boys were working on a project and appeared busy. However, Rory said later that they were just doing busy work and not anything to further the work on a project of importance that their mother had spoken about. Stacy took the silence to introduce both again for the record.

  Andy and Arty stopped working and stared at the fine looking young woman who stared at them with intense grey eyes. She saw them look at each other with grins on their faces. It wasn't hidden that these two men were thinking about what they might do with Stacy if given half a chance. Rory saw it too and
moved to her side as she said, turning to Walt in the chair that had ceased his rocking, "I'll be direct and not waste any time here today. I want to know where all of you were yesterday between the hours of nine am until two pm. I'll remind you that what you say must be substantiated by a witness other than family. Let's begin with you Mr. Rawlings."

  Just as Stacy and Rory thought, he had and later the others had a pat answer to her questions. Walt said, "I was here in my factory with a neighbor friend from down the road. He usually stops by in the mornings for coffee and some good bullshit. He left around eleven. I worked until noon and then another friend stopped by and asked me to lunch. We went to his house where my two sons' and I ate some fine fried chicken. His name is Rod Larson. After that my sons went searching for our raw materials. I'm not sure where they went but you can ask them. My wife, stayed here at the shop to greet customers."

  Rory had written the name of Rod Larson and asked, "What was the coffee drinkers name Mr. Rawlings?"

  "Oh him, well his name is Stew Jackson. I've both him and Rod's phone numbers," he said passing a piece of paper to Rory. Stacy rolled her eyes at the absurdity of such convenient alibis.

  "Where did you two guys go searching for raw materials," asked Rory looking at Arty and Andy who were now sitting on a work table staring at Stacy with leering eyes.

  "We went south to Port Orford and up an old logging road. We stopped at a café and had pie before we went to work. Maggie Stancy will surely remember us," said Andy.

  Turning to Bonnie, Stacy asked in a tone of obvious sarcasm, "Is there anybody to give you an alibi Ms Rawlings for the time mentioned."

  No sooner said than she replied, "Oh yes, my old friend Mable Booth brought me lunch and didn't leave until after two pm."

  Stacy looked at Rory and then turned back to Walt who sat there smiling at them. Stacy said, "We'll talk some more another time. It's clear to us that you all have conveniently prepared alibis for the murder of your chief competitor. Remember this – if you're not telling the truth, most people who provide an alibi, under intense questioning usually cave in not wanting to be charged with perjury. Meanwhile, make yourselves available or we'll have to see to it you're at our beckon call."