by Ace Beckett
“What have you found out?”
“Not too much. To sum up, Harper’s wife also hired a private detective. She had a hard time believing her husband could have run off the road. Long story short, the other private detective, a man named Bill Wyland, and I have both discovered… traces of evidence that might call the official police verdict into question, but we have no solid proof. A state attorney with a curt wave of his hand would dismiss the evidence we think we have and it would not come close to obtaining an indictment even if we knew who we wanted to indict. Which we don’t.”
“So what do you plan to do?”
“Collect evidence.”
He shook his head. “I would like to help but I don’t know of any hard evidence either.”
“It might help if you could answer a few questions. Such as do you know of any connection between Mary and Harper and Dale Keegan?”
He shifted in his head and shook his head. “I sure don’t. I think they knew each other and were friendly but that’s about it. I don’t think Mary ever dated Harper or Dan, but she might have…. Now that I think about it she may have dated Harper after high school.” His faced looked pinched as if he was trying to recall a twenty-year-old memory. “I think Dale and Harper were friends, maybe not good friends but they might have hung around together. If I recall correctly I think Harper had three good friends. Keegan might have been in that bunch; Harper was a better friend of Chet Franklin. Nice kid from an arrogant rich family.”
“Franklin? That name rings a bell. Did he get in trouble with the law his senior year?”
“No, that was Tom, his brother. It was a big scandal all over the school. Tom and his cousin Ender Pelham did some time. The two had a good attorney but they were stupid enough to lie on the witness stand and at that time we had law-and-order state attorney. The two didn’t help their case by strutting into the courtroom with snarky grins and flowing with disdain for the judge, the state attorney and the jury. Their attorney told to wear a coat and tie and to wipe those uppity smiles off their faces. I think Ender obeyed some but Tom Franklin did not. The jury simply did not like him and that’s not good when you’re on trial.”
“True. Everyone in a courtroom needs to impress a jury. Defendants, defense attorneys and state attorneys,” I said.
“Not that the jury would have voted not guilty even if they liked the two guys. Tom clearly committed flagrant perjury and the state attorney nailed him, even his father’s influence couldn’t keep him out of prison.” He snorted. “Not that Clyde Franklin exerted himself to keep his eldest son out of prison. I think he was getting sick of Tom and thought maybe prison would do him some good. Clyde got him the best lawyer but there are always limits to what even a good lawyer can do.”
“Would Tom have been friends with lower class men?”
“No, he had some friends in the senior class, nobody in the junior or sophomore class. Tom looked upon almost everyone as lesser than him which is one reason why a lot of people smiled or laughed out loud when Tom got on the bus to the state prison and changed into an orange jumpsuit.”
“Just as a matter of curiosity how did Tom get along with his younger brother Chet?”
“Pretty well. Thanks to Chet, Chet is a friend. He’s an amiable guy, real nice, almost the exact opposite of Tom. Tom got on everyone’s nerves including Chet and his father but old man Clyde could be irritating too. Clyde and Tom had a number of knockdown, drag-out verbal fights. Chet told me the old man threatened to cut Tom off financially more than once but never carried out his threat. As I said, Chet’s a real nice guy but I think his patience has been worn out too with Tom. Tom is just obnoxious to be around but that didn’t keep Chet from making friends all over school. He and Harper and….” Austin wrinkled up his face. “Trying to remember. I think Harper and Keegan went off on a couple of hunting trips together. They both loved to hunt and fish.”
“Would Mary have gone on one of those trips?”
“She might have…she was an outdoor type of gal.”
“Any other connection you can think of between the three dead classmates?”
He shook his head. “Besides that they may have gone on a hunting trip their senior year, no.”
I scratched my jaw. “Fletcher was a businessman who owned two appliance stores, Keegan was in finance. Did Chet Franklin go into his father’s business?”
“Yes. He and his brother are both vice-presidents of Franklin Cattle Company. The company also owns a citrus packing plant down in central Florida and has branched into horses and horse racing. Clyde always liked the races and still does and he’s just a few feet from a graveyard. Heard he’s having medical problems and doesn’t have too much longer to live, but in his prime he was a sharp businessman. The last few years he has focused on the horse racing and let the two sons deal with the businesses. A few times he’s had to yank on Tom’s chain but he’s been doing that for thirty years.”
“Tom’s been a problem. Has Chet gotten into any trouble over the years?”
“No, just the opposite. Chet is one of the directors of the chamber of commerce and also sits on the board of the Lone Steer Bank, one of the biggest in the county. It’s the bank that has most of his Daddy’s money but Chet keeps a watchful eye on it. As I said, Tom Franklin has enemies all over town. Chet has friends, well, with the exception of Ender Pelham. Pelham now hates the entire Franklin family.”
“How come?”
“About a dozen years ago Butch Pelham, Ender’s father, hit hard times. Every bad thing possible, from storms to disease hit him at once, plus his wife had medical problems. Clyde and Butch had been friends but Clyde took advantage of the situation. I don’t know all the details but, when everything was said and done, good old Clyde had a bigger ranch and a few more cattle and a long-time friendship that was now ruined. Butch needed money and Clyde did some hard negotiations and got some Pelham land dirt cheap. A few years later Butch passed and Ender later sold the ranch, got maybe 40 percent of what it was worth before all the troubles hit. Clyde screwed his long-time friend but it wasn’t the first person Clyde put through the wringer. I think Ender will still say hello to Tom because they were friends in high school and for some years after. He knew Tom had no influence with his father but he did, to a degree, blame both Tom and Chet for the ruthless behavior.”
“If that had happened to me, I think I’d bear some hard feelings too.”
“Clyde’s view was it’s a hard life, you have to deal with it.”
“And people like Clyde make it harder. Anyway, I know Tom Franklin and his cousin got sent off the prison during their senior year. Besides that was there any other scandal during your high school years? Maybe something criminal that was covered up and known to only a few people?”
He gave me a blank look. “No, not to my knowledge. No crimes, no one else went to prison and after the two cousins got sent up it was a peaceful, little high school. The high school was known for having a good football team, a slightly better baseball team and a golf team that was number three in the state. We beat any number of big schools by hitting long drives and sinking long putts. This is a peaceful county with a very low crime rate here.”
“Just out of curiosity is the sheriff capable and do you have a quality state attorney?”
“Sure do. Sam Jansen has been the sheriff for six years and he’s first rate. Everybody on the staff has topnotch training, looks like a muscled lifeguard that could knock you down with one blow and have you in the squad car before you knew what happened. Sheriff Sam runs a first rate department and Jade Emerson is our state attorney, she’s as good as they come too. She tangled with a high price defense attorney about three years ago in a murder case. The guy came down from Atlanta and figured he’d show the hicks a thing or two with his legal maneuvers. When he left after the guilty verdict he should have signed into the Hospital’s ER to be checked for shock. The guy didn’t know what hit him. Jade has turned down offers at twice her current salary because she like
s being a prosecutor. She might want to change to a new job in a few years but right now she’s going strong and ready to hog-tie any big city shyster.”
I smiled. “Thank you Lance. I appreciate you talking to me.”
He scratched the side of his jaw. “Guess I really haven’t helped you much. I guess I didn’t really know much.”
“No, you gave me information which I’m sure will be valuable. This is one of those cases that will be slow and methodical and there’s no way I know of to speed them up.”
“Do you really believe that three of my classmates were murdered?”
“At one time I thought evidence pointed that way but now I’m not so sure. I’m beginning to have doubts about it.”
I asked him how business was and he gave a glowing report. Bay Tree and the surrounding counties were experiencing strong economic growth. Business leaders and chamber of commerce were optimistic for the future.
Which is always a good thing to be.
When I woke up the next morning I checked the online edition of the local newspaper. The front digital page showed two national and one state news stories and one local story about rumors that Orbitcom, a high-tech company, was considering opening a branch in the county. Local officials were staying mostly mum but many believed the deal was close to being closed.
T. Franklin Wells, president of the local chamber of commerce, refused to confirm the rumors but did say, “We at the chamber and number of local business people are cautiously optimistic that we will have an announcement in a short time and it will be very good news for the county. All I can say now is negotiations are going on and we think the end result will be financially very beneficial to Bay Tree County.”
When asked, Wells said he could not give a definitive time for the announcement but said it could be “within two to three weeks.”
I was glad for the citizens and businesses in the county, so much for commerce. In the local arts news a community group was planning to perform the Will Rogers’ Follies at the community theatre. I thought I might get a ticket. I had seen the play some years ago and enjoyed it but the group had found an actor with country twang and folksy manner just like the late comedian.
Because I had no specific place to go or, worse yet, no specific lead to follow I kept skimming. I needed some new clothes – at least that’s what Astrid told me – and the local Branson Clothing was have a discount sale and offering 25 per cent off everything in the store. Even better, Michael’s Athletic Company was offering a variety of discounts on everything from baseball bats to golf clubs. I’ve been intending to get a new putter.
Then a story on the lower corner of the local section of the paper caught my eye. The front page dealt with national and state issues with perhaps a local story The story I noticed revealed local business owner Clyde Franklin had been taken to the local hospital and was in the intensive care unit.
“Franklin, 82, has been in poor health for some time. Although he was rushed to the hospital yesterday afternoon, the hospital merely said he is resting comfortably without commenting on the specifics of his medical condition. Franklin is native of Bay Tree County and has for decades been active in the political and business communities. A prominent rancher, Franklin has one of the largest beef herds in northern Florida, and is one of the owners of the Lone Steer Bank, along with other business projects. He has also been an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and served for twelve years on the Bay Tree County Commission.
“In the past several years he has faced a number of medical problems and has basically retired to his ranch.
His sons, Tom and Chet now effectively run the Franklin businesses and are also active in civic events in the county.”
I thought the news was interesting although not connected to the case.
I left the room and climbed in my car about thirty minutes later. I wish I was driving to get a hot tip but I was simply headed out to the local health club. I was going to exercise then sit in the hot tub and wait for an idea to come to mind.
As I pulled out into the street I was humming a song but I noticed a tan Hyundai Sonata rush from a parking space and squeez in behind me. A light had just turned yellow and usually I hit the break and wait for the next green. I slowed down and at the last minute pressed the gas pedal hard. My car spurted ahead and drove under the light just as it was turning red.
The Sonata roared ahead too. The light was red as it dashed through the intersection.
I frowned. Due to my experience as a private detective, and as an avid reader of mystery books and watcher of detective movies, I thought the reaction of the driver was a bit…odd. As a trained private eye I knew my next step. Then again, I decided stopping the car on the road, getting out and firing six bullets into the driver’s side of tan Sonata might be over reacting a tad. After all, the driver just might be in a hurry.
So I slowed down a bit and took a leisurely path to the Health Club. The Sonata dropped back and even let a car or two get in front of him but he followed the same route I was taking. When I pulled into the parking lot and swung into a parking space I wanted to see if he would drive in to. I was going to go up and say hello.
I got out and in the bright sun watched the car as it drove slowly by without turning in. The windows were up and I couldn’t get a good look at the driver. Black hair was all I could make out and as he drove by he stared at me. A large nose was the only other feature I could make out on his face.
I grabbed my red gym bag but didn’t walk in. I stayed outside for about ten minutes, wondering if the driver would swing back and maybe drive into the parking lot. Three other cars did but not the tan Sonata.
Odd.
Of course, nothing in this case had been routine.
I realized I had accidently pointed an arrow at myself. Wyland had placed the e-mail ad on the Class Reunion Web Site and notice had been sent out to all the members. On it had been my number and my location. If anybody was curious or had something to hide, they knew where to find me. If there was a killer knocking off students the ad might have made him curious. I was sure he wouldn’t try anything immediately. He’d want to shadow me and see if I might be someone to worry about.
Or he could be a random wacko driver. I was getting tired of the either/or scenarios and besides I hoped he was checking me out. Now if he would just drop by the hotel room and say hello I could get a clue. This was the first tangible evidence that there might be a conspiracy involving the deaths of three people.
I smiled and felt considerably better walking into the health club than I did when I woke up.
I did an hour on the machines, jogged on the jogging path and took a quick dip in the hot tub. On my way back to the hotel I passed a used bookstore and went in. Being an avid reader I can’t pass a used book store without checking it out. I had time on my hands. I might as well read books while waiting for a phone call. The lady clerk told me it was her shop, she wasn’t just an employee. When I left she had a big smile. I had purchased more than a hundred dollars of books. I mean hey, any owner of a bookstore is a friend of mine and deserves support.
Besides I didn’t have to exert myself. If the driver of the tan Sonata was connected to the case I might not have to find him. He might come to me.
It was a few minutes past noon when the driver pulled up to the building. A security guard had to open the gate. He had been told to expect a visitor. He unlocked the chain and pushed the wire gate aside. The driver drove slowly around to the back of the office building, got out and climbed the stairs. As usual there was a man waiting behind the large black desk. A picture on the wall behind the desk showed the high school football team of a few years before. It had placed third in the state high school championships. All the young men lined up wore wide smiles.
“What did you find out?” the deskman said. “I was shocked by the ad in the bulletin. I never guessed someone had suspicions, one of the graduates was much smarter than I guessed. Who is the man?”
“His n
ame is Hank Lancaster. He’s a private detective.”
“Really? That is…startling. Know who his client is?”
“No. There’s no way of knowing except if he tells us and you told me not to make contact with him.”
“Yes, not yet. I hope you never have to, but what do you know about him?”
“He’s from Blue Gulf County. He is a big man, at least six-three. He knows how to take care of himself and a few weeks ago he gave testimony in a trial over there. Two men tried to assault him and he put them both in the hospital. You can take a look at him if you like, he has a website. Check out lancasterdetectiveagency.com. I made some discrete inquiries in Blue Gulf County and in a few other places. Lancaster has a very good reputation even though a lot of police officers and detectives don’t like private detectives. Yet the consensus is Lancaster is a stand-up guy. More than a few detectives say nice things about him. I told officers I lived in Blue Gulf County and needed a good detective and asked if Lancaster would be a good fit. They all said he was very good.”
The deskman spoke slowly. His voice shadowed with disappointment. “What a shame. If a detective was hired I was hoping he’d be a lousy, second-rate one. That might make things easier in the long run.”
The driver shook his head. “He’s not second rate, but there’s no indication he’s found any proof in any of the three cases. The death of Mary Laurie is still officially an accidental drowning along with the death of Harper Fletcher as a single car accident. The local agencies haven’t reopened the cases so we have nothing to worry about.”
“Good. In a few days perhaps it will be irrelevant that Lancaster is around because we will have finally obtained our goal. The payoff will be tremendous.” He leaned back in the chair picking up a gold sword letter opener. He tapped the blade in his hand. “I wonder though about his client. Who is he? Who could have guessed the truth? Which one of the graduates? I’m curious.”
