The Tamarack Murders

by Patrick F. McManus

  “Not bad at all. As you know, I’m dealing with the inconveniences of a bank robbery and a murder over here in Blight City. What I’m calling about, have you ever heard of any folks over there by the names of Dance or Beeker?”

  “Dance? Nope, can’t say I have.”

  “How about Beeker?”

  “Beeker. That rings a bell. It’s an old name around here, but I don’t know of any Beekers still living here. You know Batim Scragg. Batim’s lived here practically forever. He might know of some Beekers past or present.”

  “Good idea. Thanks, Dave. By the way, I may need your services tomorrow.”

  “Anything interesting?

  “Maybe. Might involve some shooting.” He clicked off.

  Pugh walked in and grabbed a chair across from Tully. As was his practice, he spun the chair around, sat down astraddle of it, and propped his arms on the back.

  Tully leaned back in his chair. “What do you know about the little town of Famine, Brian?”

  “Famine?” Pugh thought for a moment. “I know that fifty percent of the population aspires to ignorance.”

  “What about the other fifty percent?”

  “They’ve attained it.”

  Tully smiled. “I’m headed over there tomorrow. Probably be gone a few days. You’ll be in charge.”

  “What about Daisy?”

  “When you’re away, she’ll be in charge. But you take care of any major stuff that happens. You should be able to reach me on my phone at any time, but don’t use the radio.”

  Pugh stared off in the distance.

  “What are you thinking, Brian?”

  “Nothing. I see you got the paint scraped off your window.”

  Tully frowned. “Maybe I should let Daisy handle the major stuff, too.”

  “Naw, I can do it, boss. You going after Beeker and Dance?”

  “That’s my plan. If things get sticky, I may need you and Ernie. So be ready to drop everything and move fast. I don’t have any idea how bad these guys are.”

  “You going alone?”

  Tully checked the doorway to make sure Daisy wasn’t listening. “No, I’m taking Angie.”

  Pugh smiled. “I’d take her too, but that’s not a lot of firepower. How about Pap?”

  Tully frowned. “Just once I’d like to handle one of these situations without dragging my old man in. On the other hand, he would never forgive me if I left him out, particularly if some killing is involved.”

  “You think there will be killing?”

  “Somebody took out Vergil Stone, and if it was Dance or Beeker, neither one of them was much bothered by it. It was cold-blooded, premeditated killing. If they’re the ones, I don’t think they would hesitate to take one or all of us out, particularly if they’re looking at a long prison term.”

  “Fish and Game didn’t have any record of licenses for them.” Pugh said. Tully rocked back in his chair and laced his fingers together behind his head “They must not have been concerned about being stopped by a game warden while they were out pretending to be hunters.”

  Tully nodded. “Lurch found out they had both done time for robbery. Fish and Game would have checked that and refused to issue them licenses. So if these guys are as bad as I think they are, they would have popped any game warden who checked them for licenses.”

  Pugh said, “I suspect so.”

  Tully stood up, walked over to the door and yelled at the Unit. “Lurch! Come here!”

  The Unit wandered over. “I’m pretty busy, boss, but what do you need?”

  “Go over to the library and see if you can turn up anything with the name of Beeker or Dance on it.”

  He looked around the briefing room and saw his useless undersheriff, apparently about to make an exit. “Herb, stop! I’ve got a job for you, too. Check the county tax office, and see if you can find any Beekers or Dances listed there. Then go through all the newspapers at the library for the past month, and see if you can find any classified ads with ATVs for sale.”

  “Geez, boss, I’m loaded down with work already. I’ll get on this first thing tomorrow.”

  Tully sighed. “No, Herb, right now. I need this info like an hour ago. So hop to it. Give the info to Daisy.”

  Herb went off, muttering. Pugh followed him, smiling.

  Tully picked up his phone and dialed. Gridley Shanks answered.

  “Hi, Grid. It’s Bo Tully. I need some information. What do you know about Beeker and Dance?”

  “Just what I’ve told you. Not all that much. They seemed nice enough fellows. Paid for drinks.”

  Tully turned his chair around so he could look at the lake. “I’m headed to Famine tomorrow to check out some things. You ever hear Beeker or Dance mention any relatives living in the area?”

  “I don’t recall any names. On the other hand, it’s pretty hard to recall anything after a night at Slade’s.”

  “One of them mentioned they were staying in a cabin somewhere outside of Famine. I thought it might belong to a relative of some kind.”

  “Could be, Bo. Sounds like something to check out. I don’t know much about either Dance or Beeker. I’d help you out, if I could.”

  “Thanks anyway, Grid.”

  Tully punched in Angie’s number.

  “Hi.”

  “Hey, Bo! What’s up?”

  “You want to ride over to Famine with me tomorrow? I suspect our bank robbers may have stayed over there someplace. Maybe we can pick up some leads.”

  “Sounds good. We’ve done just about everything we can here at the bank. The last two two agents are headed back to the main office. I’m staying on at the hotel for a few days, in case we get some new leads. You want to pick me up at the hotel?”

  “Yeah. Eight o’clock.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  “Good. You might want to come armed.”

  “I always come armed when I’m out with you, Bo.” She hung up.

  Tully turned and looked up. Daisy was standing in the doorway, her hands on her hips. “And what is Daisy to do with the information Herb gives her?”

  “Daisy is going to call on all the ads and see if the person who placed the ad sold the ATV. If the person gives you a hard time, I will personally go over, kick down his door, and get the info myself!”

  “Okay, okay, don’t get your tail in a knot, Sheriff.”

  Daisy went back to her desk. Tully shook his head. He had to create an atmosphere of more respect and discipline in the office. This, of course, would require avoiding any future affairs with his secretary. He got up and yelled across the briefing room. “Lurch, get in here!”

  “You better hurry, Lurch,” Daisy said. “Bo’s in one of his moods.”

  “Great!” Lurch said, walking by Daisy’s desk. “You get him in one of his moods, and I’m the one who suffers.”

  “Yeah,” Tully said. “A lot of suffering you have to put up with, Lurch.” He shut the door behind the Unit.

  Lurch sat down in the chair across the desk. Tully had walked over to the window and was staring out at Lake Blight. He thought he could make out a rim of ice forming around the shoreline. Maybe this year the lake would freeze over enough to provide some decent ice fishing. He turned and frowned at the Unit. “I’m heading over to Famine tomorrow, and I’m leaving you in charge.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding, boss!”

  “I am. Actually, Daisy’s in charge, as usual. But I want you to do everything you can to pull this bank robbery and murder together. Whatever you need, get it. Follow up on everything you can think of. Try to find out where Dance and Beeker are staying. I think they’re holed up somewhere in the county, probably over around Famine, waiting for the heat from the bank robbery to die down before heading back to wherever they came from, Oregon apparently.”

  “When will you be back?”

  “Probably late tomorrow night and . . .”

  A phone in the briefing room rang. Daisy answered it. “One moment please,” she said swe
etly. Then she covered the mouth piece and yelled, “Hey, Bo, it’s your fortune-teller!”

  Tully glared at her and picked up the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Bo! It’s Etta.”

  “Etta! Great to hear from you!”

  “I really need to see you. It’s serious, Bo. Can you stop by for tea?”

  Tully glanced at his watch. “Sure. How about in an hour?”

  “That would be perfect. I don’t want to be a bother, Bo, but this is serious.”

  “I hate serious, Etta. See you in a bit.” He hung up. Daisy was standing in the doorway. “I like a man who leaps at commands.” She smiled grimly.

  “It’s not what you think, Daisy. Etta is an attractive woman, all right, but she’s ten years older than I am. We’re not having an affair.”

  “Good, because I’ve been thinking of getting back together with you.”

  Lurch looked from one to the other.

  Tully smiled. “Are you thinking our little mistake wasn’t really a mistake?”

  “That’s what I’ve been thinking.” she said. “I’ve even thought we should maybe get married.”

  Tully stared at her. “Making a mistake is one thing, Daisy. Getting crazy is another.”

  Daisy laughed. “I have one requirement, however. We keep Clarence.”

  Tully shook his head. “You don’t take long to throw in a deal-breaker, do you? I’m planning to haul Clarence back to Batim Scragg tomorrow.”

  “Bo, I love that little dog, and he loves me. And only one of us chews the feathers off chickens.”

  Tully laughed. He was thinking of saying ‘which one,’but decided not to push it. There were other ways to get rid of Clarence. He knew he loved Daisy. He also knew he probably would never again marry for love. He loved too many women. Ginger’s death had crushed him. If he ever got married again, it would be to an amiable companion who could easily be replaced. His affair with Daisy had ended months before, and he still wasn’t over her. Given time, the pain should subside, and he would be careful not to make the same mistake again.

  The Unit seemed slightly dazed. “I hate it, boss, when I get caught in a row between two lovers.”

  “Forget everything you heard, Lurch. Now here’s what I want you to do. There’s a little old lady who works for the library. Her name is Vera. I want you to go over there and ask her to track down anything involving the name Beeker or Dance in Blight County. She’s something of an expert on the history of the county. I think she’s even written a book about Blight County. Okay?”

  Lurch appeared dazed. “I’m still stuck on you and Daisy getting married.”

  Chapter 10

  Etta’s house was perched on a steep, weedy hill with a long set of rickety stairs leading up to it. If Etta had actually been a fortune-teller, the house would fit the occupation perfectly. Apparently, it was possible to drive around the hill and approach the back of the house by means of a road, but so far he had chosen to climb the stairs as if they were some kind of challenge he set for himself. Or perhaps the stairs were preparation for seeing Etta. The stairs had a handrail on each side, but Tully thought handrails were for sissies. He went up the stairs two steps at a time, his boots making loud, satisfying thumps. Tully was about to push the buzzer when the door suddenly sprang open. He jumped back, his right hand slipping under his vest.

  “Bo!” Etta exclaimed. She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek. “I was hoping that was you. Come in, come in. Grab a seat on the sofa, and I’ll pour the tea.”

  Tully sat down in a chair across the coffee table from the couch.

  “Great, Etta! I can use a good strong cup of your tea. I have to get back to the office and prepare some things for tomorrow.”

  Etta disappeared into the kitchen and soon returned with her silver tray, the silver teapot, silver sugar bowl, and cream pitcher. The china cups were so dainty Tully was almost afraid to touch one. His finger wouldn’t fit through the handle so he grabbed the cup itself, ignoring the heat.

  Etta sat down on the couch. “Bo, the reason I asked you over is that I wanted your company, but I’m also very worried about you.”

  “Worried about me, Etta? You don’t have to be worried about me. You know I can take care of myself. Any risky situations, I send in one of my deputies.”

  “I know that isn’t true. I may not be a fortune-teller, but I can always tell when you’re lying.”

  Tully dumped two spoonfuls of sugar into his tea, stirred it and took a sip. Etta appeared seriously worried. He knew she wasn’t a fortune-teller, but he had been startled numerous times by her pronouncements, things she knew about him that he was certain she had no reasonable way of knowing.

  Etta peered at him over her tea cup as she took a sip. “You look tired, Bo. I hope you’re taking care of yourself.”

  “Etta, I’ve given up just about everything I like to do. I haven’t smoked my favorite pipe in five years. I keep it in a box out in the garage along with all my other pipes and smoking paraphernalia. I can’t bear to throw any of it away. Every time I walk by the pipes cry out, ‘Smoke me! Bo, smoke me!’It’s very sad. So far, though, I haven’t given in.”

  Etta laughed. “I hope you haven’t given up on wine. You know wine is supposed to be good for you.”

  “Even the wine they serve at Crabbs? If I gave up eating at Crabbs altogether, I’d probably improve my health a hundred percent. So you wanted to warn me about something, Etta? I didn’t think it was about my health.”

  “It wasn’t your health, Bo, but something dreadful. I know you don’t believe in my nonsense, but I sense a dark force hovering near you, and you appear totally oblivious to it. I just know you’re in terrible danger and seem totally unaware of it.”

  He stared at her. “Danger is part of the job, Etta. You know that. I deal with bad guys all the time. It’s something you get used to. There are people who would dearly love to kill me, I know that. Fortunately, most of them are in prison. That’s one of the reasons they would like to kill me.”

  Etta frowned. “I know, dear. And I wish I could tell you the source of this new danger, but I can’t. It’s something out there that never quite takes shape. It’s like a threatening dark force that hovers near you. It seems to be closing in on you.”

  Tully felt the hairs on the back of his neck twitch. A shiver went through him. She had piqued his interest. “Etta, you have any clues about what this dark force might be?”

  “No! Nothing! It could be a person. And I feel terrible that I don’t know what or who it is. I probably shouldn’t have said anything, but I couldn’t help myself. It’s just this terribly vague sense of something very bad.” She started to cry.

  Tully got up, walked around the coffee table and sat down beside her. He reached his arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug. She gave a little cry. “Oh!”

  “Etta, don’t cry. Believe me, everything will turn out okay.”

  “Oh, it’s not that, Bo. Your gun just jabbed me.”

  They both laughed

  “Anyway, Etta, thanks for telling me. I’ll be extra cautious from now on.”

  “Oh, I do hope so, dear. It’s just that I sense this dark force converging on you. I know you must think I’m the weirdest person you’ve ever come across, but you mean a lot to me.”

  Etta wasn’t the weirdest person Tully knew, but she was a contender. Still, he knew he could fall in love with her, and he already loved way too many women.

  He stood up to go. Converging! Gridley Shanks leaped to mind. Sometimes there’s a good reason all signs converge on a particular individual—he’s guilty!

  Back at the office, Tully tilted back in his chair, closed his eyes and laced his fingers together behind his neck. One of these days he would get out of the sheriffing business and just paint. His agent, Jean Runyan, had sold his latest painting for $2500. Not bad. It would be wonderful to wake up in the morning and not have to worry about bank robberies, murders, stolen chain
saws, and convergences. Instead he would simply walk up to his studio sipping a hot cup of coffee and go to work on his next painting. Even better, he’d have a wife bring the coffee up to him after he had started work. Maybe even his own wife. He tried to imagine what such a wife would look like. There were so many pretty women to choose from, but Daisy kept flicking up on his mental screen, standing there next to his easel, a steaming cup of coffee in her hand. Better yet, on a tray with two steaming cups of coffee and a plate of cookies! No point in skimping on a daydream. He glanced out at Daisy sitting at her desk in the briefing room. She was scratching an itch on her head with the lead point of a pencil. Hmm. He’d have to give this more thought.

  Lurch appeared in his doorway. “Hope I’m not interrupting a good daydream, boss.”

  “Far from it, Lurch. You find anything at the library on either of our suspects?”

  “Not much. But I talked to Vera Freedy about her history of the county. There used to be a Beeker ranch out next to the river south of Famine. Adam Beeker was the owner. He died about eighty years ago. The ranch was one of the largest in Idaho. The Beekers ran thousands of cattle on it, but a corporation back in New York owns the ranch now. It mostly grows trees.”

  “I didn’t expect you to read a whole book on it, Lurch.”

  “I didn’t. I talked to Vera about it, and she told me about the Beekers. She said she had a whole chapter about the ranch.”

  “Interesting. I may head out to the ranch tomorrow. You want to go?”

  “Naw, there might be shooting.”

  “I hope so.”

  “That all for me, boss?”

  “No. See what you can turn up on the corporation that owns the ranch and ask Vera if she knows of any place on the ranch Beeker and Dance might hide out.”

  “Stupid of me to ask.” Lurch headed back to his corner.

  Tully grabbed a phone book, thumbed through it, found the number he wanted and dialed.

  A gruff voice answered. “Yeah?”

  “Batim, it’s Bo Tully.” Batim Scragg was one of the deadliest human beings in all of Idaho, possibly on the planet.

  “Whatcha want, Bo?”

  “You know what I want, Batim.”