Murder Mysteries #3

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  "I'll inform my captain," said Rory. "He'll call Salem and let them take care of this guy. Meanwhile the lawyer said the finances of Mrs. Betty Franks are complex. He suggested we come by tomorrow and have a face to face with him."

  Ben spoke up and said, "The property is worth, or valued at over a million. I suspect that it's fully paid for except yearly taxes. I'm sure that with her passing on and if she left a will with her three kids as primary recipients or beneficiaries, they're wealthy offspring. On the surface, there's motive in receiving a pile of money."

  "I've got Sharon the caregiver's resume and haven't looked at it yet. Maybe you should make copies so all of us can look Tall Man," said Stacy. While he was making copies, Stacy and Ben were left chatting.

  Ben said, "It's so obvious that only five people had access to Mrs. Franks' medicine: the three daughters, the caregiver and the doctor. In this day and age, it would be rather a stupid person who'd poison her mother. The blame or being a prime suspect would naturally fall upon an off spring who administered medicine behind closed doors. By noon tomorrow charges should be filled against one or all the daughters. It's up to them to prove they are not guilty. However, no one observed anyone actually giving the victim the poison. I think we've an interesting case here Stacy."

  "I agree Ben. The oldest is Sally who seems the take charge sibling. Let's see what happens when we interview each separately as to what they have to say about their sisters." Rory came in with copies and after sitting down said:

  "I talked to the captain and he will pass on the complaint to Salem about Dr. Builtmore. Also, he'll get that court order tonight and ruin the doctor's dinner later. I thanked him and left. It would seem Stacy Super Sleuth; you've an admirer in Captain Blane."

  For the next ten minutes all read Sharon's resume. Stacy, after finishing it thought, this seems lacking for some reason. Sharon was forty-one and there were gaps in her working life. Before Eugene she lived in Portland. However, her work record showed a year at convenience store. Back further was nothing but showing only as a housewife. It seemed sketchy that if someone was to live 24/7 with a client, a full back ground check would occur. Stacy thought it prudent to have a CBC done on Sharon Lipsky.

  Rory said, "Sharon has many periods of not working it would seem to me. I see only a GED and virtually no experience as a live-in caregiver. We need to look deeper into her." Ben nodded in agreement.

  "Put that on your list Tall Man. Let's go eat and sleep on this case until tomorrow. Maybe you could, after dinner, set up some interview times with the three daughters tomorrow."

  On The Morrow

  After dinner Stacy drove home in the fading light of the day. The fog had disappeared replaced by a half moon with a sky full of sparkling stars. That in of itself was a romantic scene. When she parted from Rory, she snuggled up against him letting him wrap his long arms around her. When she tilted her head up he took the hint to have a joining of the lips. Stacy felt good and warm from the embrace.

  Now she wondered what to do about sending out a request for housing in Eugene. For starters an apartment with excellent security would be the order of the day. When she found the time she'd search the internet for an apartment. Also they had rental service places that would search for you. Overall she felt fairly good except that butt head doctor. It was a given that the world was full of butt heads like him.

  When she parked in front of the wood shop, she noticed the shop lights out and the house lights on. Stacy smiled knowing her father had found a lady friend in Fran Parker. He seemed ten years younger. Stacy's smile left as she walked to the door thinking about her mother who had died way too young. Life sucked sometimes as she walked through the door into the kitchen that sparkled like the stars of the night. A woman's touch, she thought as she said hello to the couple in the living room watching TV. "I'll freshen up and come back," she said walking to her room.

  A quick shower and dressed in sweats, even though it was summer, nights are chilly living on the southern coast of Oregon, she went out to visit with her father and Fran. When she arrived father turned off the TV as he wanted a report on the homicide in Coos Bay. Fran wasn't used to talking about murder, so she sat quietly as church mouse just listening. To her father, a fair investigator in his own right, having been the Chief of Police in Bandon for upwards of 30 years, it sounded fairly routine.

  When she told him about the doctor in Coos Bay, he moved to the edge of his chair as if to listen harder. He said, "I know that guy. He spends more time in court than with his patients. I'm very surprised he's even practicing any more. I heard that he has trouble finding mal practice insurance. I might stop by and give him a little piece of my mind."

  "Captain Blane is going up to Salem to file a complaint against him. I just want her records is all? If he wants to drown in his own misery, so be it. Now, father and Fran, I'm instructed to interview an assistant for me when I assume the US Marshal's job. I'm vacillating between a young man or an experienced old timer. What is your advice?"

  She saw her father thinking and Fran was looking at him for someone to take the question and answer it. But, Fran saw Stacy looking at her so she said, "Stacy, I've no idea what to tell you or advise you. I'd say find someone you can trust and count on when the chips are down." Stacy nodded.

  Father said, "You might consider Dan Swollow Stacy. His record here is flawless and he strives to do the job without complaint. I realize he's a got a thing for you, but you can handle that. He's single and can move anywhere at any time. I can find a replacement easy enough. Also, an old timer might rub you wrong as he or she might resent working for a still wet behind the ears girl."

  "Good idea Father. I'll talk to him tomorrow. I thank you both and now I'm off to bed. Good night all."

  Hit em High Hit em Low

  The next morning before Stacy left for Coos Bay, she asked Dan to her office for a talk. He was just coming on duty and his smile fell off his face thinking he'd done something wrong. Stacy saw it immediately and said, "Relax Dan nothing is wrong and all is right. I need to ask you something."

  Flo came in with a sack full of muffins. She passed a couple to Stacy and Dan while Stacy was making herself a tea and fetching Dan a cup of coffee.

  After the snack of muffins and tea or coffee, Stacy looked at Dan and said, "Dan this'll be a shock, but I want you to think about it. I'm not sure myself if my new boss will go for it or not. What you probably don't know is I've been offered a job with the Justice Department as an Oregon US Marshall with an office in Eugene. I'm required to have an assistant Deputy US Marshall. If you're interested I'll pass your vita on to my boss who resides in DC.

  I believe the idea is to expand the investigative service for the southern region of Oregon with the addition of a new office in Eugene. I'll be moving up there within a few months once some of the slow bureaucratic paper work flows. I'm scheduled to meet my boss in September for a final dotting of the I's and crossing of the T's. That's about it Dan. Any questions.

  "I'm rather speechless Stacy. I never thought at my young age I'd be considered for a Deputy Marshal. My aspirations were to apply to the state police and then maybe become a detective like Rory and Ben. I really don't need any time to think about it and if you give me the opportunity I'll take it."

  "Okay Dan, make up a fresh resume for me to show my boss when the time comes. Now with this homicide in Coos Bay, I must be leaving. Catch you later Dan," said Stacy as she left him sitting there walking out the door.

  At Rory and Dan's office, Stacy sat listening to the morning schedule from Rory. "Our first stop is at the attorney's office at 10 am. The second stop is at Sally Reynolds' house near Walmart. After that is her sister Debbie at her house in North Bend and finally the youngest sister Beverly Franks who is a college student. She has an apartment with two friends near campus. We're to call her after her sister Debbie's interview is finished."

  Captain Blane walked in and said, "Stacy, I think you'll find Doctor Builtmore very cooperativ
e today. Here's the medical records you wanted. I had a court order delivered to his house last night at 11 pm." He smiled and left the way he came.

  "Damn, that man is good," said a happy Stacy.

  Legal Revealed

  At Lance Fleesty's office, who did the legal work for Mrs. Franks; welcomed the three detectives into a spacious office. At first glance, Stacy wondered why such a young man represented the family. Then after two minutes of talking, she totally understood that the firm had been responsible for the legal work for many years. It had been passed down to him after one of the original partners assigned the legal work to Lance.

  Rory asked, "Mr. Fleesty, please give us the background on the family and come forth to the last will and testament that was written."

  "Hank Franks was shrewd from the beginning of his life. From what I gather, he worked hard, saved all he could, bought property thinking that Weyerhaeuser would be here forever. They say by the time he was forty, he was a millionaire on paper. However, he worked hard and drank hard too. The smoking and drinking killed him at a young age of mid fifties. They'd three kids all girls, much to Hank's chagrin. He wanted a boy to carry on his small empire. Anyway, once he was gone, the wife Betty took over. She wasn't no dummy as first she called in my father the banker and then her legal council, which is me. Her stockbroker works closely with my father at her bank.

  Okay, now to the last will and testament." Lance had the document in front of him and he said without looking, "The bulk of the estate is divided equally between the three daughters. A portion of it goes to charity and surprisingly a gift clause goes to her caregiver Sharon Lipsky."

  "What is the amount, if you will," asked Stacy.

  "A hundred thousand cash after taxes," said sort of red faced Lance.

  "When was this will written," asked Ben.

  "It was rewritten just six months ago," said Lance.

  "Do you know if the sisters are aware of this gift to the caregiver," asked Rory.

  "No I'm not sure about that."

  "How about her health; what do you know about that Mr. Fleesty," asked Stacy.

  "From what I understand she has never been a strong person. My father said they were surprised each time she had a baby that she recovered. It's my understanding Hank wanted a boy very badly. However, after the third one, the doctor told them no more or she would probably die. Later in life she became frailer each year. After Hank died, she hired a caregiver. The rest you know. One more thing, after Hank died, Sally did most of the financial work for her mother. Sally is a strong person like her father. The other two girls are more like their mother: meek and reserved."

  They told him thanks and left to see the oldest Franks daughter Sally.

  Sally lived in a neighborhood not befitting her soon to be social status. Their house, was rather plain with a one car garage. The neighborhood was kept neat and all the houses looked well maintained. A knock on the door revealed a grim faced thirty year old housewife. Stacy said later she even looked the part of a housewife with a plain house dress with an apron that had seen the inside of a washer one too many times.

  Sally crack a small smile and asked them in. Stacy noticed the house was neat and clean like the neighborhood. She read where they had two kids, but there're no sign of any kids around. Strange, Stacy thought.

  Rory said, after all were seated, "We offer our condolences Mrs. Reynolds about your loss. However, we're fairly sure this is a case of homicide with poison as the method of killing. From what little we know, and we hope you can shed some light on our plight to find the murderer, the medicine was mostly administered by you or one of your sisters as the door was always closed according to her caregiver. Can you enlighten us on this matter?"

  "As I'm the oldest and live the closest, I took the responsibility to give my mother her meds that the doctor prescribed. I know nothing about her being poisoned. Each prescription was clearly marked and the dosage given. I followed those directions to the letter. Now it's true I've no idea what the medicines were, but followed the doctor's order. I'm sure you have her medicine as evidence so you'd best check there first before pointing fingers at me or my sisters."

  "We've checked the meds and found no trace of arsenic poison in any of the containers from her medicine cabinet. That leaves only the person who committed the homicide to have brought the poison with them. Now we're pointing fingers Mrs. Reynolds. You have motive and opportunity. Why shouldn't we suspect you or one of your sisters," asked Stacy with piercing eyes pointed directly at a smug Sally Reynolds.

  "I'm not guilty," said a less aggressive Sally. "You'd best look at the caregiver. My mother said she was going to give a gift of cash to her. I went ballistic and my mother said she'd make up a new will if I was so adamant about such a large amount to a caregiver."

  "Let's leave it here for the time being Mrs. Reynolds. We need to see your sister Debbie."

  In the SUV driving over to North Bend, Rory asked, "What's you take on that sweet person that's somebody's wife and mother."

  "Typical of a person trying to point the blame somewhere else. Is she guilty? I've no idea. What we do know is somebody murdered the woman; and made her suffer to boot. Let's see what the middle daughter has to say."

  Debbie was slightly friendlier than her sister. A four year old was bouncing off the walls. His face was still full of chocolate giving the boy a nice sugar rush.

  Her house was a bit smaller and on the shabby side. But the inside was not bad for a house with a messy youngster tearing around. She apologized for the distraction and about that time a bang on the door came. Debbie ran to the door and it was a neighbor who'd come to take her son to her house so she could talk to the detectives without interference.

  After that, gentle Ben asked, "Debbie, tell us about your mother and her state of health please."

  "Mom was always sickly it seemed to all of us. I think my father had something to do with her health. He was always putting her down which resulted in headaches. She go lie down just to get away from him. Anyway, after three kids that took its toll on her leaving her open to colds and fevers. She was always going to the doctor. He'd give her all kinds of meds to take. We tried to get her to see another doctor, but she told us she understood Dr. Builtmore just fine."

  "Are you aware Debbie that your mother was poisoned," asked Stacy.

  They shock and inhaled breath told the story she'd no idea about what they said happened to her. However, later Stacy told them wasn't it kind of obvious when three detectives call on a surviving daughter that some foul play must have happened.

  "No I wasn't aware that she been poisoned. Who poisoned her?"

  "We don't know. That's why we're here to interview you and see what you know about her murder," said Rory.

  "I know nothing," said Debbie with her hand still at her throat. "Sally gave mom her meds as I know about things."

  "Tell us your financial situation and what about your older sister Sally's financial situation," said Stacy.

  "Kind of personal aren’t you," she said with a straight backbone and head held high.

  "Murder doesn't have private feeling Debbie. We've your financial situation coming, but thought we'd give you the opportunity to tell us in your own words you present situation. Obviously, with your mother dead, you stand to inherit a lot of money. That gives you motive Debbie," said Stacy.

  "We struggle like most families in this area. My husband Don is a longshoreman and since Weyerhaeuser folded it's been rough on all dock workers. He's on the B list, but last year we made less than $30,000 between us I work part time at Walmart. We have borrowed heavily from my mother, but now that she's gone, I guess that monies will come out of my inheritance."

  "What do you know of the contents of your mother will Debbie," asked Rory.

  "I really don't know the particulars, but understand it is divided between us three daughters and some to a charity. Other than that, I know nothing."

  "Tell us what you know about Sharon Lipsky your mo
ther's live-in caregiver," asked Stacy.

  "I guess she did a good job. I never heard anyone complain. Sally was over there a lot. She'd know more than me."

  "So you weren't aware that in your mother's latest will Sharon Lipsky would receive a cash gift of $100,000 dollars," said Ben.

  Stacy thought Debbie was going to fall out of her chair from shock. First it was the news of her mother being poisoned and now a large cash gift of a staggering amount just rocked her boat.

  "That's more than we've made in over three years," said a visibly shaking Debbie. "How come Sally or my mother never told me. I don't think my younger sister Bev knows anything about this either."

  "Did you ever, when you were visiting your mother, give her any prescribed medicine," asked Stacy.

  "Not that I remember. Sally did, that I know. Sharon did too as I've seen her with containers and a glass of water entering mom's bedroom. It's been a few weeks since I've been there. I feel guilty now."

  "I think that's enough for now Debbie. I'm sure we'll be back with more questions as murder knows no boundaries concerning privacy. We're sorry for you loss," said Stacy standing up ready to leave.

  Driving away, Rory said, "She knows more than she lets on. I can't believe she doesn't talk to her sister more often. Besides Walmart is not far away from where her sister lives. Now I wonder if Sharon knows she's about to win a mini lotto."

  Lunch time was near the community college at a restaurant that Rory was familiar with. They decided to eat first and then retrieve the financial reports from Rhonda. After ordering and something to drink to satisfy a parched throat, Stacy asked, "What do we think about our first two interviews with the daughters Sally and Debbie?"

  "I think we've heard a mix bag of lies and truths from both of them," said Ben. "Now we have to sort it all out. It just seems too obvious that either one poisoned their mother. They don't seem in mourning about the loss, but both appear reasonable intelligent. The dark horse is Sharon who would certainly profit by the contents of her will if she passed on. The timing would have to be perfect before either one of the daughters made Mrs. Franks rewrite the will."