Secrets On Alderberry Road: Shattered hearts and broken dreams

by Debra Smith

  As we were leaving Waylon’s office, I thanked him for the information. We arrived at Randal’s house. We put the books in the box. Suddenly a picture fell out of the book. Randal noticed the men in the picture; Mayor Cecil Brant, Tomas Ruggiero, Heath Sander and Police Commissioner Ron Baker sitting at a table. I shook my head in disbelief. Randal said,” I would say they were working on a double cross.” Putting the picture in a box, I replied,” There were a lot of shady dealings.” After we finished packing, we loaded the truck.

  When we arrived at the station, we carried the boxes into a conference room. I walked into Captain Gordon’s office. I told her about the information we had found. I further told her about the information Waylon gave me. She followed me into the conference room. Randal started putting the books and pictures on the table. She put her reading glasses on. She started going through the books. She said,” A lot of bribery with Mayor Cecil Brant.” Next she looked at the pictures, asking Randal who’s who.

  He identified all the people from knowing them in person to newspaper articles. In a disappointed voice she said,” I see the Police Commissioner Ron Baker was in on the take including Judge Xavier Sulton and Judge James Lucas. It’s a shame when the ones who is to up hold the law becomes dirty. Now my question to you, Detective Colter, do we have a suspect that is alive to prosecute for the murders that occurred?” Smiling I answered,” I am very close to one. I do believe the suspect changed his name. I do not who he is yet, but I will.” She told us to proceed with the case. She was walking out of the room, when Penny walked in with a picture. She excitedly said,” I identified your old guy.” She laid the picture of Calvin Calouchi. Then she placed a picture of Police Commissioner Ron Baker over the top of it. The facial structure matched, especially around the eyes. She further stated Police Commissioner Ron Baker middle name was Calvin and his mother’s maiden name was Calouchi. He assumed the identity after his son passed away in the car accident. Police Commissioner Ron Baker ceased to exist from that point on. He went to a college in another state to get his teaching certificate in music, using the name Calvin Calouchi. Many years later, he returned to Silver Springs, gained employment at the local university as a music professor. He married Annabell Brownand had one son, Carol, a history teacher at the high school. He owns a house on Canal Street. I replied,” The reason he changed his identity was he didn’t want to get caught. He was facing bribery and murder charges.” Randal quizzically asked,” Can we prove he did those murders?” I answered,” I hope forensics can help us. If not we may have to stretch the truth.” Randal replied,” I hope you can pull it off. It sure would be nice to close the case with a suspect in custody.” Penny said,” If there is anything else you need, let me know.” I responded by saying, “Not yet.” She left the room.

  Doctor Bordou telephoned the police station to request my presence at the forensic lab. Randal and I walked into the lab uncertain of what he may found. He said,” Detective Colter, the .38 police special is the same caliber used in the court house shootings. The serial numbers were confirmed of who owned it by Marshall Colter. The owner’s name is Police Commissioner Ron Baker. I was able to get a finger print off the barrel. If his finger prints were still in the system, I could see if I had a match. I need a slug from the scene to see if it is the gun. If we had those two crucial pieces of evidence, then we would have the answer to this case.” Doctor Cora walked in carrying a folder.

  She handed it to me as she said,” The article of clothing on both victims had a trace amount of cyanide from their body fluid that dried on the clothes. Both victims I have concluded died of cyanide poisoning.” I replied,” I thank you, Doctor Cora. Doctor Bordou, is it possible to retrieve a slug from the old courthouse for that is the crime scene?” With a puzzled expression, he answered,” It’s possible it could still be there. The odds of finding it in that old deteriorated building is slim. I could send a few assistants to help you find it. You are going to need luck.” Doctor Cora asked,” Detective Colter, may I come?” I answered,” Sure, we’ll need all the help we can get.” I called my friend, Chase to help us look for it. Perhaps with enough eyes we’ll find the slug.

  Everyone met at the old courthouse parking lot within the hour. Putting on gloves, we walked into the old court room. We used the crime scene photos to give us an idea where to look. Age and time had taken its toll on the furniture and walls. Chase started looking around the judge’s bench. The two forensics; average height men with dark hair, named Jerry and Brian, started on the walls. Doctor Cora looked over the tables used by the prosecution. Randal and I went over areas in between them. Slowly, we ran our hands across everything, hoping we find it. When Chase went to move the chair behind the bench, she noticed a small hole in the back of the chair. She lifted the chair up right to take a better look at it. She said,” Hey, I found something.” All of us ran to her. Doctor Cora brought the crime scene photo over to the chair. The picture showed the judge on the floor behind the bench with the chair off to the side. Doctor Cora said.” Jerry, give me a pair of tweezers. I do believe something is in there.” Jerry held the light on the hole. Doctor Cora very carefully removed the slug from the chair. Brian photographed Doctor Cora and the chair. She carefully placed the slug in a clear tube with a cap. We figured it out by the photographs the judge tried to hide when the shooting started. The first shot went into the chair as he went under the bench. The second shot came when the shooter walked behind the bench. The judge laid there fearing for his life. The shooter walked up to him; placed the gun to his head and then pulled the trigger. We left the old court house feeling excited about our find.

  I handed the slug to Doctor Bordou personally. I wanted to see his face expression. Doctor Bordou looked at the slug with a surprise expression. He asked,” How did you find it?” Smiling, I answered,” It was in the judge’s chair. Doctor Cora removed it. Brian photographed everything.” He replied,” I’ll run the tests to see if there is a match.

  I’ll call you when the results are in. I don’t suppose you have an idea where we can get Police Commissioner Baker’s finger prints.” I responded by saying,” I wish I did.” We walked out of the lab to my truck.

  I dropped off Randal at his house. I told him I’ll call if I hear anything. I met Chase at the local pizzeria. Valente’s pizzas open up a few years ago. They hand toss their pizza’s, making their restaurant busy. The customer’s enjoyed watching their pizza being hand made. Sipping on our sodas, I said,” I am going to return to the mansion. There is a locked room I want to check on.” The garden salads arrived first. In between eating her salad, Chase said,” I’ll go with you.” The deluxe pizza arrived. The aroma made us hungrier than we first realize. After dinner, we drove to the mansion.

  When I parked the truck, a sudden movement caught our eyes. We carefully got out of the truck. An uneasy feeling came over us. We cautiously walked to the river’s edge. Raven stood there with a sad expression. She turned to leave. I softly said,” Raven, please don’t go. I need your help. Please stay.” Pausing for a moment, Raven ask,” Why should I?” In a pleading voice, I answered,” I want to make things right. Something happen to you, please tell me.” She asked,” How do you know my name?” In a soothing voice, I answered,” Victoria Tabich told me. She told me all of you were best friends.” Raven remembered the name. She closed her eyes for brief a moment. At one time the life she knew was all right. Before the stormy night that changed life as she knew it, she was content. Everyone she knew was here. I could hear sadness in her voice as she answered,” We all died here in some form or another. I died here, too.” She gazed at the river. Sadness filled her heart. There was no peace. A constant restlessness intertwined with the sadness. I gently ask,” How did you die?” Chase stood by me frozen, unable to speak or move. She stood there intently listening to our conversation. Raven’s dark eyes looked at me. Sadly she answered,” A police officer shot me. I didn’t have answers to his questions about Sky, Carrie, Byron and Clair being missing. I told h
im Byron was in the river and that’s all I knew. He didn’t believe me. After he shot me, he took me to a secret room. I remember seeing racks of wine. I heard Heath call the police officer Baker. Heath told Baker to go get me a doctor. He was angry Baker had shot. He kept saying he needed me alive. Before the doctor came, I felt myself slipping away. They buried me underneath the oak tree by the river’s edge.” Tears came to our eyes. I asked her to show us where she was buried.

  We walked half way down the road. She stood under the tree. An old wooden cross with the initials 1950 leaned slightly against the tree. Chase placed her hand over her mouth in disbelief. Raven said,” This is the same place Byron’s motorcycle was found. His cross is on the other side of the tree.” I walked around the tree. I bent down to brush some leaves away with my hand off the cross. The old wooded cross had the name Byron Sander June 03, 1950, etched in it. Not saying a word, I stood up. In my heart, I sincerely hoped he was alive in Montana, and perhaps the others were, too. I called Doctor Bordou about Raven’s body.

  Shortly thereafter the forensics team arrived. They carefully started to dig. They came upon a pine box. Gently they removed the pine coffin from the grave. Doctor Bordou opened the lid. Upon confirming a body was in there, he shut the lid. They placed the pine coffin in the hearse to be taken to the lab. I told Doctor Bordou her name was Raven Ryan, Sky Ryan sister. He asked,” How do you know for sure?” I cautiously answered,” Anonymous tip told me.” He skeptically replied,” Perhaps dental records, DNA testing from a relative could provide a positive ID.” Not saying another word they left. Chase and I returned to the mansion. She wasn’t quite sure the ghost she saw was real or a figment of imagination. She finally asked,” Robbi, did we see a ghost that showed us her resting place?” I answered,” Yes, we did,” opening the mansion door. We proceed up the stairs.

  I gave the locked door to a room a hard bump. The door opened. The bedroom was untouched. Clothes were neatly hung in the closet. The full size bed was made. I opened dresser drawers to find clothes still folded. On the walls were motorcycle posters to baseball. I saw on the shelf trophies and plaques from baseball. The name Byron Sander was written on the name plates. I noticed the one plaque had a thicker back on it than the others. I took the plaque to the desk sitting in the corner. Chase and I looked it over to find an opening, in which, we did at the seam. Using the letter opener from the desk drawer, I pried the back off. An envelope fell out. Inside the envelope was three one way train tickets, two gold rings, a picture of a house and a letter. I laid the contents on the desk. I started reading the letter as I unfolded it.

  Dear Grandson,

  We are looking forward to meeting your new bride. The house is ready and waiting for you. We are happy your mom is coming, too.

  We will meet all of you at the train station.

  Love Your Grandparents,

  Charles and Grace Kern

  On the envelope I saw the return address of Briar Ridge, Montana. I returned everything to the envelope. I decided it was time I go to Montana. I would make my arrest upon my return. I figured it would give Doctor Bordou more time to gather the evidence. Chase and I left the mansion.

  After I dropped off Chase at her house, I went home. I was exhausted, but yet excited. I telephoned Randal to see if he wanted to go to Montana with me in the morning. I told him about Raven. He was silent for few minutes. Clearing his throat he said,” I’ll go with you to Montana. I never thought Raven would be murdered. I always believed she left town. Perhaps they’ll remember me.” I told him I’ll pick him up at 07:00. When we hung up the phone, Randal was saddened to hear about Raven. He called his son RJ to tell him he was going to Montana and the case was about solved.

  In the morning, I gave Matti to the K-9 unit until I returned. Randal was waiting for me at his front door. He carried his suitcase to the truck with a quick exchange of good morning between us. I drove to the station to inform Captain Gordon first.

  CHAPTER VIII

  Captain Gordon listened to my reason for wanting to go to Montana. She replied,” I’ll speak to the local authorities there about your reason for your visit and about the case. I’ll make the arrangements to go by train. I’ll send you a text message to whom you will need to see.” Before I left the station, I thanked Captain Gordon.

  When Randal and I arrived at the station, our tickets were waiting for us. I received a text message stating Sheriff Kendale would be meeting us when arrive. We boarded the train filled with uncertainty. The journey to Montana had begun. Randal and I were silent on the train. Both of us were lost in our thoughts. His thoughts were about reuniting with an old friend, Clair. Will she recognize him? Will she remember the countless times he saved her from her husband’s fists? Did she finally find happiness? My thoughts were about the grandparents I never knew. Did my grandmother finally tell my mom and Uncle Gerald about Byron being their real father? How will Byron react to the news I am his granddaughter? Will he want to see my grandmother? Our questions will soon be answered.

  In the morning, we arrived at Briar Ridge, Montana. When we walked into the train station, Sheriff Christine Kendale average height and build with blonde hair walked up to us. A young deputy was with her. After the introductions of each other, including her Deputy Wallace, we walked to her car. We put our luggage in the trunk. She said,” I went to the Kern ranch to prepare them for your visit. The one you called Clair is now Amelia. She does remember Sheriff Augustine. Everyone is looking forward to meeting you. Perhaps, they can now let go of the past. They can finally have closure, to move forward. We’ll be at the ranch in forty five minutes.” After we got in the car, she started to drive through Main Street.

  A small town with varied shops all along Main Street. A dinner was at the end of the street. One red light in the middle of town. Looking both ways you could see the entire town. A quiet town. Hardly any cars or people seen. Randal softly said,” This would be the last place you would think a person would come to.” I nodded in agreement.

  We finally turned onto a gravel driveway with white fence on both sides. Cattle and horse were grazing. Shade trees loomed over the pasture. A large farm house with a wrap- around porch stood in front of the driveway. Everyone was sitting on the front porch waiting for our arrival. Amelia stood up as we got out of the car. Three steps, we were on the porch.

  Before Sheriff Kendale could speak, Amelia asked,” Sheriff Augustine, is it really you?” Randal smiling, answered,” Yes, Clair, it’s me.” They gave each other a hug. Suddenly, they started chatting about the old times. No one interrupted them. I stood there looking at Clair Sander, now Amelia, a woman who once lived in a vast mansion with servants. But with all the money her husband had, she was not happy. She did not have the freedom to be her own person. The mansion was more like a prison than a home. It was here; at this Montana ranch she found freedom. When Randal told her Heath Sander passed away, I saw a look of relief on her face. Peace had finally come. A joyous day, indeed. Amelia told Sheriff Kendale we would be staying the night. Sheriff Kendale replied,” I’ll return in the morning to take them to the train station.” Smiling, Amelia said,” There is no need. We’ll take them to the train station.” The Sheriff and her Deputy bid us good-bye and then they were gone.

  We finally walked into the house. We followed them into the living room. Before sitting down, Amelia introduced us to Seth (Sky), Elizabeth (Carrie), Shane (Byron), and Dusty (Trent). Shaking their hand, I told them I am Detective Robbi Colter. Randal shook their hands, smiling. A sense of relief came over him. Everyone in this room disappeared fifty years ago. Now, here they are, alive and well. We sat down to begin the catching up. I ask,” Shane, do you remember Jacklyn Crandel?” Upon hearing the name, I saw sadness appear on his face. He answered,” She was my girlfriend. I heard she was murdered. In this one of the reasons you are here?” I watched his sadness become a puzzled expression when I answered, “ She is alive. Not only is she alive, I am her granddaughter. My mother and Uncle Gerald is your twi
n babies.” Amelia gasped as she ask,” Are you saying you’re my great- granddaughter?” When I answered,” Yes,” Seth ask,” Who was the one murdered?” Amelia and Shane were trying to come to terms of what I told them. They were waiting to hear my answer to Seth’s question. Randal and I looked at each other. I knew now why my grandmother was not harmed. They thought she was dead. But it was actually Raven who was murdered. It was mistaken identity. I gently said,” A body was found buried under the oak tree where Shane wrecked his motorcycle. Seth, I do believe it is your sister, Raven, but we need DNA to prove it.” Seth turned pale. His dream of seeing his sister again shattered with his heart. Suddenly, he stood up, in a quivering voice he said,” I’ll return with you, tomorrow, to Silver Springs. Perhaps the body isn’t Raven’s. She’s still alive, waiting for me.” By my silence, he had an awful, uneasy feeling I was right about Raven.