As she rounded the heavy shrubs that blocked her path, Lin let out a gasp. Sparky stood at the edge of a small shallow pond barking his alarm. Lying at his feet was what appeared to be the body of a young woman—blond hair streaming in the dark swamp waters, her face dark and grotesquely swollen!
Chapter 2
“Oh! Sparky, what…who have you found?” Lin addressed the now calmer animal. Having drawn Lin’s attention to his find, Sparky now lay down and whimpered softly by the young woman’s body.
There was no cell signal down in the area by the body, and Lin had observed no other walkers on the trail as they started out so there seemed no point in calling out for someone. She shortened Sparky’s leash so that the dog had to follow her on the climb back up to the trail. She had to walk back about a hundred yards to the highest point before she got a strong enough signal to dial 911. Lin described her location and what she had found to the emergency operator who promised help would arrive shortly. Then there was nothing to do but walk back to the trail point nearest the body and wait. Lin chose a fallen tree for a seat and kept Sparky close to her side. She realized that she was shaking even though the morning air was warm.
I can’t believe what just happened, Lin thought. She wondered what could have happened to the young woman. It had only been a few months since Lin had experienced death in the desert of northern Arizona. This was the last thing she expected as a start to her holiday at the coast.
The wait seemed forever, but it was probably not more than 20 minutes before Lin heard help approaching. First to arrive was a uniformed officer from the local Kill Devil Hills police and a deputy sheriff from Dare County soon joined him.
“Hello, I’m Jerry Lee,” the deputy introduced himself. “This is Sergeant Ken Parker,” he indicated the local cop. “We usually work together when any type of death is involved—maximize our resources,” he explained. “You the lady who called 911?”
“Yes, I’m Lin Hanna,” she replied as she rose to meet the officers. As she proceeded to describe her grisly discovery, she realized that her voice was shaking as she talked. It was difficult for her to relate what had happened. Lin felt surprised at her own physical reaction.
Taking note of her obvious distress and her dirty jeans, Ken Parker took her by the arm and gently guided her back to the log on which she had been seated. Jerry Lee was on his cell phone calling for a medical examiner to come examine and remove the remains. There was obviously no need for any medical help. The young woman had probably been dead for several hours.
“Should we call the medics to come check you out?” Parker asked. “You seem pretty shaken up and it looks like you took a tumble.”
“I’m OK,” Lin insisted, “I did slide when Sparky took off but I’m not hurt.”
“Did you have anything to eat before you came out to walk the dog?” he asked, “You’re pretty jittery.”
“I’ll be ok,” Lin felt somewhat better. “Now that you mention it, I had planned to eat breakfast after walking—that’s probably why I have the jitters. I feel better now.”
Ken took Lin’s basic contact information and made a brief note regarding her discovery. “Why don’t you take the dog back home and get some breakfast,” he suggested. “We’ll be here for awhile taking care of all this. You can come in to the station later this morning and we’ll take your complete statement then.”
Lin readily agreed, taking Ken’s card and tucking it in her pocket. “ I’ll call before I come down to make sure you are in. Thanks.”
Ken spoke briefly with Jerry Lee who was now off the phone. He agreed that Lin could give her statement later. “No need for her to stay right now. It ‘ll be at least half an hour before the doc and his crew can get here.”
Lin was only too happy to take Sparky and head back toward the parking lot. She still felt shaky but the physical trembling had stopped by the time she reached the Jeep. Sparky seemed ready to leave also, jumping eagerly into the front seat as soon as she opened the door.
“Perhaps you generally ride in back,” Lin told the dog, “but we’ve both had quite a shock so let’s stick together for now.” Sparky curled up in the passenger seat at her suggestion.
Lin drove directly back to Kate’s house. As she pulled into the parking area underneath she saw that Eloise was outside cleaning up some flowerbeds. Lin hastily grabbed Sparky’s leash and led the dog upstairs. She didn’t want to talk to anyone just yet.
An hour later, Lin was in much better shape. She had changed clothes, observing that the only apparent damage resulting from her fall was a bruise on her rear that was only a bit sore when she first sat down. “That’ll be pretty,” she thought as she slipped into fresh clothes. She had already fed Sparky and fixed herself some scrambled eggs and toast.
Pouring a second cup of fresh coffee, Lin went out on the porch to relax for a bit. The shakes were gone but she was still troubled by the experience. Who could the young woman be? What had happened to her in such a peaceful place? Although the body was swollen and the woman’s face was dark and distorted, Lin had not observed any obvious wounds or injuries. Perhaps she died naturally, but she seemed to be pretty young. Lin felt truly puzzled.
For the moment, all Lin wanted was to sit on the porch with her coffee and relax. She focused on the peaceful view of the sound and soon she felt herself growing drowsy. She had slept well the night before, but she guessed her body was reacting to the shock of her experience. Putting her coffee cup aside, Lin stretched out on the lounge chair and soon found herself drifting into that comfort zone of relaxation between sleep and wakefulness. A short nap would really help…
She awoke with a start when she heard someone coming up the steps. She sat up as Eloise appeared by the screen door.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you,” the kindly neighbor spoke gently, “but I just heard some troubling news on the radio. No names were mentioned but it sounded to me like they were talking about you so I had to check.”
“Come in Eloise, there’s coffee in the kitchen. What did you hear?”
Eloise described a local news report that indicated that a lady who was walking her dog had found the dead body of a young woman in Nags Heads Woods. “I saw you heading out with Sparky this morning and I hoped they were not talking about you but I had to check. I saw you come back and you looked pretty shaken up at the time.”
“I’m afraid that was me,” Lin replied thinking of how fast news travels in small communities. “Actually, Sparky found the young woman—he just dragged me along. It was pretty shocking and I was pretty badly shaken up I’m afraid, but I feel much better now.”
“I’m so sorry,” Eloise was genuinely concerned. “You probably need some company. Why don’t you come over to my house and have some lunch? It’s after noon, a few minutes anyway.”
Lin quickly looked at her watch. “I’m supposed to go down to the police station to give a statement,” she replied, “and officer Parker should be back by now. He’s probably wondering what happened to me so I’d better call and hurry on down.”
“Dinner then,” Eloise insisted, “come about six. I won’t take no for an answer.”
Lin agreed and Eloise departed for her home. After letting Sparky out for a bit and checking his water bowl, Lin dialed the number on Ken Parker’s card. A receptionist answered. Parker was in his office. He hadn’t been back long, it seemed. Lin said she would be down shortly.
Arriving at the local police station, Lin was quickly escorted into a conference room where Ken Parker waited to take her statement.
“You look much better now. Hope you feel ok.”
“Much better, thanks,” Lin responded. “Some breakfast and a nap worked wonders.”
It only took a few minutes for Lin to share her description of what had happened during her walk that morning. Nothing really complicated, she realized. It was just an unfortunate incident; she and Sparky happened to be the first ones to arrive on the scene. As she signed the statement form, Lin asked.
“Has the young woman been identified? Do you know what happened?”
“I really can’t tell you who she was,” Parker replied. “She had id but her family must be notified before…”
“Of course,” Lin said. “ and I feel sure the medical examiner has to do an autopsy.”
“Yes,” Ken agreed, “but I can tell you that we saw no obvious signs of trauma. I think this was probably a natural death. I’ll be glad to call you, if you like, when we know more. I realize that finding someone like that is quite a shock and you’d like to know what happened.”
“Thanks, I would,” Lin shook hands with the young officer and left the station.
It was time to return to normalcy. She decided to go to the outlet mall she had spotted when she first arrived and try to do some shopping before she went back to the house and her dinner with Eloise. I need some normal activity, she thought, something to take my mind off all this. She looked at the ever-darkening sky; it looked like that rain was finally coming so a walk on the beach was not a good idea at the moment. Shopping was the best alternative.
***
Lin awoke Sunday morning feeling well rested and almost fully recovered from her experience the previous day. Of course, her trip to the outlet shops had put a bit of a dent in her bank account, but she hadn’t been able to resist a couple of outfits that she felt were exactly right for her. She planned to pack one of these to take tomorrow. It would be perfect for dinner out with Neal. She’d even found a silky blue nightgown to add to mix—certainly sexier than her knit pajamas!
Dinner with Eloise had been just what she needed. Kate’s neighbor was an excellent cook and the white wine she served with the meal had been a great choice. After a relaxing evening with the older lady, Lin had had no trouble falling asleep. Now, as she showered and dressed for the day, she decided she would go out for a bite of breakfast and then maybe take Sparky over to the beach for a walk. The previous day’s rain had passed leaving chillier temperatures and a brilliant blue fall sky. Better wear a sweatshirt and take a jacket for that beach walk, Lin thought.
Yesterday, she had spotted a small café that had an outdoor eating area where Sparky would be welcomed; she decided to take the dog with her and save a trip back to the house after her meal.
Arriving at the café, Lin selected a sheltered outdoor table that was in the warm morning sun. She tied Sparky’s leash to the bench seat and then went in to place her order. The warm aroma of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon was almost irresistible. Lin decided on a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon with a side of sourdough toast. As she poured herself a generous mug of dark, steaming coffee she noticed several stacks of newspapers on a table near the door. She found a copy of the Charlotte Observer among the out of town papers and decided to purchase it. As she headed back to the counter, she noticed a stack of local papers on the end of the table. A bold headline caught her eye: BODY FOUND IN WOODS. She had to add that paper to her purchases.
Settled at her table, Lin turned to the local paper while she waited for her food. There was a large article on the front page describing her discovery of the day before. She noted, with relief, that she was not named. She was just “a woman walking her dog in Nags Head Woods.” Even though the officers and Eloise, were aware that she was that woman, she would be happy for that fact not to become widely known. She didn’t wish to become a local news item. Lin was glad the police had used discretion.
The story began in a relatively routine way, describing the finding of the body of the young woman whose identity was now revealed as Dorothy Johnson who was from Springfield, VA, a Washington suburb. Her parents, who were identified as residents of Richmond, were quoted as being shocked and grief-stricken by the news of their daughter’s death from what appeared to be natural causes. The article went on to say that, while the cause of death was still under investigation and the medical report was still pending, there was no evidence of foul play found at the scene.
As she turned to the continuation of the article, Lin almost choked on a swallow of coffee! The reporter had interviewed Dare County Sheriff Pete Midgett who said that the discovery of Dorothy Johnson’s body might lead to the closing of the most famous cold case in the area in recent decades. Lin continued reading the quote from the sheriff.
“Dorothy Johnson—known as Dorrie when she lived here more than ten years ago—was the prime suspect in the murder of Outer Banks resident Elizabeth Frazier in November, 2000. She disappeared from the area at the time the crime was committed. All apparent indications were that she stole some valuables from Liz Frazier’s home, stabbed her with a kitchen knife, and then burned the home in an attempt to cover up her crime. Investigators at the time failed to locate Dorrie Johnson in spite of exhaustive efforts. Other possible suspects were cleared at the time, and local officers have always felt certain that Dorothy Johnson committed that crime.”
Lin was stunned. The article went on to say that, while officers would certainly look into where Dorrie Johnson had been all these years and why she had chosen to return to the area now, they felt certain that this discovery would close the case regarding the death of Liz Frazier. The Sheriff acknowledged that no official cause of death for Ms. Johnson had been determined but he noted that from all initial appearances she died of natural causes.
Lin folded the paper and sat back on the bench. The waitress, a middle-aged woman, arrived with her food.
“I see you’ve been reading about that dead body somebody found yesterday, the woman said as she placed the food in front of Lin, “more coffee?”
Lin nodded and the woman left to get the coffee pot. She continued the conversation when she returned. “I sure am glad to hear that Dorrie Johnson is dead—I mean, Liz was a good friend of mine. She didn’t deserve what happened to her. That girl came here for the summer and stayed on. She was a wild one and Liz sort of took her in—look where that got her!” the waitress shook her head as she refilled the coffee mug.
Lin could only nod at the woman’s remarks. She was speechless. She felt some of the uneasiness and shock she experienced the day before coming back. She’d found a dead body and now it looked like that body belonged to a murderer who had disappeared more than ten years ago—only to return and die near the scene of her crime. This was stranger than strange. Lin didn’t know what to think but she did know she had to learn more about the young woman who had died in Nags Head Woods.
Her appetite now gone, Lin picked at her breakfast, taking only a few bites before she decided to head back to Kate’s house. She asked for a take-out box knowing that Sparky would enjoy the bonanza of leftovers.
The walk on the beach would have to wait. She had to think about what she wanted to do next.
Lin’s cell phone rang as she walked into the kitchen back at Kate’s. Grabbing it from her jacket pocket, she released Sparky from his leash. It was Ken Parker, the local police officer.
“ I was just calling to let you know that we got the autopsy report from the ME’s office this morning. Dorrie Johnson apparently died from a sting—a bee or wasp. She was apparently highly allergic.”
Lin remembered the insects she had observed around the fall wildflowers during her walk; she had been surprised that they were still active in the warmer coastal climate. “If she knew she was allergic, it seems she would have had an epipen with her since she was walking outdoors. Of course, sometimes people have serious reactions when they have had only mild ones before…”
Ken Parker interrupted, “We spoke with her parents. They confirmed the allergy and said she generally carried a pen. Guess she must have left it behind this time—or lost it somehow. It’s a really sad thing, but I did want you to know the death was from a natural cause—it was an accident.”
Lin had to interject another thought, “I guess it was a fortunate accident from the point of view of the Sheriff—at least that’s what the morning paper implied.”
“You read that article,” Parker responded. “Well, I was still in school when Liz F
razier was murdered but it was a big story around here and every indication pointed to Dorrie being the one responsible. I think the Sheriff will probably close the case on the Frazier killing now.”
“I suppose so,” Lin responded. “Well, I do appreciate your call.” She moved to end the conversation.
“One more thing, before you hang up,” Parker stopped her. “ Sheriff Midgett told me to ask if you could give him a call. He has a favor to ask, he said.”
Lin was puzzled, “Sure, I’ll do that. Do you have the number? Can he be reached today?”
“Sure can,” Ken responded, “He’s working in his office in Manteo.” He provided the number and Lin thanked him once more for calling before she hung up.
What could the Sheriff want from her? Lin wondered as she dialed the number.
A deep voice answered, “ Sheriff Pete Midgett, how can I help you?”
“This is Lin Hanna. I’m the person who found the body yesterday. Ken Parker asked me to call you.”
“Yes, thank you Ms. Hanna, I have a favor to ask,” the Sheriff responded. “Dorrie Johnson’s parents are driving down today from Richmond to give confirmation on her identification and make arrangements to have her remains returned to their home for burial. They are understandably upset by all this and have asked if they might talk to the person who found their daughter. I think they just need to fully understand what apparently happened—where she was, and all that—helps to bring closure, you know.”
Sandrift: A Lin Hanna Mystery Page 3
