by C. M. Sutter
By ten o’clock, and a third of the way through our lists, I had everyone stop and tell me where they were with the calls. Jack had two sales of those tires so far. One was to somebody with A as the first initial and Carpenter as the last name. The other was to a Deana Brent. He took down the addresses and phone numbers for both. I had nothing so far. Billings had three stores that sold that brand of tire, and one place looked the information up and had nobody with an A or a D as their first name. The other two stores said to call back later, they were too busy to check. Clayton had three people that had purchased the tires in the stores he’d called. One was to an Allen Fellenz, another to a D. Ray, and the last was to a Dan O’Meara.
“So it looks like we have two possibilities, maybe three so far if Deana Brent was a typo. That gives us A. Carpenter and D. Ray. Let’s call them and find out what make, model, and color of vehicle those tires went on. Either they’ll have information we can work with or they’ll get scratched off our list and we’ll continue on.”
“How do you want us to proceed with the calls, Jade?” Clayton asked.
“We’ll say that we’re checking into a string of recent robberies at tire centers and that tire has been the one most often stolen. Ask the person if they still have their tires and what vehicle they’re on. Tell them that somebody reported them stolen right off their truck. Invent any story you want, just find out what make, model, and color of truck they’re on. You three go ahead with those calls. I’ll keep dialing.”
The three calls took only a few minutes. Deana Brent bought the tires for her husband’s birthday gift. He drove a 2009 Toyota Tundra, and the tires were still on the truck. The A in A. Carpenter stood for Andrew. He was a seventy-seven-year-old man that sold his 2007 Red Chevy Silverado when he retired to an assisted living residence. He said he sold it on an online auction site to somebody in Michigan. The last name, D. Ray, was a Dennis Ray, and he had a black single-cab, short-bed Ford F-150 with a black camper on the back. He wasn’t our guy, either. We continued with the calls.
“Jade?”
“Uh-huh.” I scratched number thirteen off my list and looked up to see what Jack wanted.
“Would you mind taking me home at lunchtime? It should only take a few minutes to get that tire off my car. We can take it to the service station down the street from my house. They’ve worked on my car in the past, and they’ll get it plugged today. That way I can pick it up after work.”
“Yeah, I suppose, as long as we have time to hit a drive-through.”
“That’ll work, thanks.”
We had a few more possible names, and then the list would be complete, other than the places we needed to call back. We broke for lunch at noon.
“Boss, do you want a burger and fries from the drive-through?” I asked as I popped my head around Clark’s door.
“I’d love a burger and fries,” he said as he shook the baggie filled with carrot sticks and celery stalks at me.
“You’re actually still eating that rabbit food?”
“I guess so until I lose another ten pounds. Liz and my doctor are in cahoots with each other and monitor my every movement. She even bought one of those gadgets I have to wear on my arm that tracks every calorie, footstep, and breath I take. There’s no way I can get away with it, but thanks for the offer.”
I laughed. “I know I don’t have that willpower on my own. Maybe Amber should start monitoring me too. Sorry, boss, it sucks to be you.”
“Liz means well, but she isn’t the one that has to eat this crap.”
“Okay, we’ll be back in an hour.”
Clark waved me away as he chomped on a celery stalk.
Chapter 26
When he finally reached the menu board at the drive-through restaurant, Jack placed our orders. The six cars ahead of us were definitely slowing things down.
“It won’t take long with the tire. We’ll be back at our desks by one o’clock.”
“Unless we’re still waiting for our food.” I sighed and watched as more cars pulled into the carside waiting area for servers to bring out their white bags of greasy burgers and salty fries. “Don’t you find it odd that nobody has reported a missing person other than Whitney Smith? Her call came in less than twenty-four hours after David didn’t come home. No family member has called in for John Doe yet.”
Jack inched the cruiser ahead. “That’s telling me he’s either a loner and has no close next of kin, or the opposite. The next of kin doesn’t want us to know who he is. If he actually is this Dean guy, why hasn’t Alice or the daughters called it in?”
“Because they’re the ones who did it.”
“Uh-huh. We find his family, we find his killer. But why David Smith?” Jack pulled the wallet out of his back pocket and took out a twenty.
“That’s the million-dollar question.”
We finally got to the window to pay. I hoped the person at the second window would give us two soft drinks and a large bag of burgers instead of telling us to pull into the carside waiting area. My cell phone rang as Jack was handed the bag of food and two soft drinks.
He grinned. “Guess it’s our lucky day.”
“Not necessarily, Clark is calling.” I answered on the second ring. “Hey, boss, change your mind about the burger?”
“Jade, sorry to cut your lunch short, but we got a call from North Bend PD. They know this is our case, so they contacted me. They found David Smith’s car.”
“Already?”
“Yep. Apparently it’s parked at an apartment complex on the north side of town, up near Barton Hill. The place is called Lakeview Apartments. The parking spaces there are assigned, that’s why the call came in so soon. The resident was out of town, and when she came home this morning, she found a white Corolla in her spot. She told the manager, who called it in. Kyle and Dan are at the apartment complex right now. I think you and Jack should head over.”
“No problem, boss. We’re on our way. Give me the address.”
We ate our lunch during the short drive to the north side of town.
The address sounded familiar, and when we arrived, I knew why. Back in my college days, one of my closest friend’s parents lived there. It would have brought back fond memories if it wasn’t tied to this most recent murder.
Jack pulled into the circular driveway at the top of the hill. The complex was a tidy group of nine buildings, all surrounding the center pool and clubhouse. The apartments had either a first-floor patio with a view of the pool or a balcony with the same view. Each building held eight apartments that were red brick to the second floor. From that point upward, they were sided in white vinyl, accented with green shutters. The parking lot followed around the circle, two spaces deep, and each space was numbered to correspond with the apartment number.
We found the black forensics van midway around the circle, parked next to a white Corolla in space E-207. Jack parked behind the van, and we got out.
“Hey, guys, what do you have?” I asked as I put on my sunglasses and walked over to the car.
“Nothing at first blush other than finding his wallet under the seat. The killer probably put it there. There’s a bunch of fast-food wrappers and bags with time-stamped receipts stapled to the bags. We’ll sort everything out once we get the car back to the evidence garage. If we’re lucky, we might get prints off his wallet, steering wheel, or door handles. The seat position would work comfortably for anybody between five foot seven and six foot two.”
“Hang on a sec.” I hit the call button for Lena. “Hey, Lena, it’s Jade. How tall was David Smith? Uh-huh, okay, thanks.” I clicked off. “David was five foot eleven, so the seat position isn’t going to matter.”
Jack spoke up. “Going through the drive-through receipts for location and times could help us narrow down what places he frequented most often and times of day. There could be a pattern. Let us know when you’re done checking those items. Maybe we can put something together using the receipts.”
“Will do, Detecti
ve,” Kyle said.
“I’ll give Clark a quick call.” I walked as I spoke and noticed a spot of shade and a picnic table on a small patch of grass that looked inviting. I headed toward it and sat, instantly feeling a few degrees cooler. The thick canopy of the tree offered a slight breeze, which felt wonderful against my face. “Hey, boss, we’re at the apartment. There weren’t too many more places on the list to call. I think Clayton and Billings can cover that while Jack and I interview people at the apartment complex. We’re going to start with the manager and tenant whose car belongs in that parking space.”
“Yeah, sounds good. I’ll let Clayton and Billings know to continue on.”
“Thanks, boss. The car has a bunch of fast-food bags inside with time-stamped receipts. We’ll go through those later, and David Smith’s wallet was under the seat too. I’ll call back in an hour or so and let you know our progress. I think Kyle has already called for the flatbed.”
“Good enough.”
I clicked off, took in a deep breath of cooler air, and headed back into the scorching sunlight.
“Do you guys need anything more from us?” Jack asked.
“Nope, we’re good. We’ll hang out until the flatbed gets here,” Dan said.
“Okay, catch you back at the station later.” Jack and I headed in the direction of a sign with an arrow and the word Office written on it.
Chapter 27
“Larry Taylor said he can’t meet me tonight after all. Something came up, but he’s asking if I want to have lunch with him right now instead. What should we do?” Mariah asked.
“Hmmm… we’ll have to alter the plan a bit, but tell him okay. He has to come here and pick you up like any decent gentleman would, though. Mandy, you’re going to do exactly like Mariah did the other night with David Smith except you’re bringing Larry Taylor into the house. Tell him he has to meet your mama because she’s old-fashioned. I’ll be waiting for him behind the door. We’ll save the workshop for later when John Leiter arrives. No sense in cleaning that mess up twice. Now hurry along and get your butt upstairs. Comb your hair and change into that pretty dress.”
“Mama, please, I don’t want to do this.”
“Shut your mouth and do as your daddy said. Anything I want, remember? If you wouldn’t have punched your poor sister’s face, maybe you wouldn’t be in this predicament. There’s always consequences, young lady. Now get moving.”
Alice watched as Mandy trudged up the stairs, each foot taking an unwilling step upward.
“You better be back down here in ten minutes. You don’t want me coming up after you.”
“What should I do, Mama?” Mariah asked.
“You, sweet child, can fetch some things from the workshop, but you have to hurry. Get the duct tape, a length of rope, two nine-volt batteries, a pry bar, the Dremel tool kit, sandpaper, and pliers.”
Alice busied herself at the kitchen table, making sure everything was in its proper place. Certain things needed to be out of reach too. She jiggled the bottom kitchen cabinet door that often stuck and pulled out the seven-inch cast-iron fry pan. That went behind the front door.
Alice heard the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. Mandy turned the corner and stood for her mother. Alice sized her up.
“You look real nice, now go sit on the couch and watch out the window for Larry.”
“Why is the workshop door open?”
“Mariah’s getting the necessities. She’ll be back in a minute.” Alice leaned over the couch back and peered out the window. “Here she comes.”
Mariah entered the house with her hands full. “I got what you asked for.”
Alice nodded. “Okay, put the stuff on the kitchen counter. He should be here any minute.”
They sat and watched for movement. A slight layer of dust clouded the driveway, and the familiar sound of crunching gravel perked up their ears.
Mariah bounced on the couch with excitement. “He’s here, Mama.”
“Shush, now go sit on the staircase and wait, and stay out of sight. I don’t want him to see you until I say so. Mandy, you better put on the performance of your life or you’ll be answering to me. Now get outside and welcome Larry in.”
Mandy smoothed her dress and walked out. Alice dropped the sheer lace curtain so the visitor wouldn’t see her and rose from the couch. She settled in behind the front door and tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ears. The engine shut off, and she heard the car door open and close. Voices got closer, and the sound of shoes on the sidewalk told her they were only a few feet away. Her eyes darted to the doorknob as she lay in wait, watching for the slightest turn. Her jaw muscles twitched with tension. Alice was as anxious as a hungry fox about to pounce on an unsuspecting rabbit. The turn of the handle prepared her for action. She lifted the fry pan over her head as the door opened fully.
Mandy called out to her, “Mama, there’s someone here I’d like you to meet. Come on in, Larry.”
Alice saw him step inside, beyond the open door that Mandy leaned against. She leaped out and swung, holding back enough to only knock him out. The killing would come later, and Mandy would be shown what to do. The crack against his skull made a sickening thud. He fell forward as David had, stunned and nearly unconscious. He groaned and tried to get up, but Alice whacked him again. He collapsed on the living room floor.
“You killed him, Mama,” Mariah said angrily as she came around the corner from the stairway.
“I didn’t kill anyone. That’s Mandy’s job, now help me drag him to the chair.”
They propped Larry up in a sitting fashion in the kitchen chair Alice had readied for him.
“Mariah, get the duct tape and tape his hands to the chair arms good and tight. Do the same with his legs.”
Alice grabbed the twenty-foot length of rope and stood on the table. She wove it through the large eye hook screwed into the kitchen ceiling beam, then secured it around Larry’s neck.
“Tape his forehead to the back of the chair, Mandy.” Alice climbed off the table. “That should do it. If he wiggles too much and tips the chair over, he’ll strangle himself.” Alice checked the time and grinned. “We have hours with him before John shows up. Mandy, go change your clothes.”
By the time Mandy had returned to the kitchen, Larry was regaining consciousness. She sat next to her mother and sister and stared at him, waiting for instructions from the matriarch. Blood dripped from the back of Larry’s head to the shoulders of his shirt, where it settled and soaked in. Fear took over his face when he realized he couldn’t move. He saw Mandy sitting across from him with the battered Mariah, and Alice, the mother. His eyes darted from woman to woman and to each of his hands taped to the arms of the chair. The chair hopped as he tried to free himself until he felt something tighten around his throat.
“Better be careful, Larry. If that chair tips, you die. Of course, you can’t see the noose around your neck, but from your expression, well, I assure you, it’s there. Mandy, go get that old sheet we used for your haircut. I don’t want to mess up the linoleum.”
Mandy disappeared down the hallway. She returned with a faded twin-sized sheet.
“Drape it around him.”
She did as she was told.
Larry’s nostrils flared as he tried to suck in air. Tears streamed down his cheeks.
“Do you know what you are, Larry? That’s right, you can’t talk with that tape over your mouth. Let me help you with that.” Alice ripped the duct tape from his lips, taking skin with it. “There we go. I’ll start over. Larry, do you know what you are and why you’re here?”
“No, I don’t. Who are you? What do you want with me?”
“We’re your judge and jury, and I’m sentencing you to death. Why were you contacting my daughter? You’re a married man.”
“That’s what the website is for, people like me.”
“Cheaters? Men that betray their marital beds? It’s against God’s will, and we were chosen to put a stop to it. I’ll make s
ure your wife finds out what you’ve done.”
“Please, no. I’ll pull my profile off the site, and I’ll never do it again.”
“Shut up, it’s too late for pleading. Mariah, get the pry bar.”
Mariah, chomping at the bit, took a half dozen excited steps to the kitchen counter and back to the table with the pry bar in hand.
“What should I do, Mama?”
“Pry his mouth open with it when he clamps it shut. Mandy, get those two batteries. When Mariah opens his mouth, I want you to wedge them on each side, back by his molars. That way he can’t close his mouth. Don’t snivel, either. Do what you’re told.”
Mandy retrieved the two nine-volt rectangular batteries from the countertop and came back to the table.
Alice grinned. “Ready?”
Mariah leaned over Larry with the pry bar. “Just so you know, Larry, I thought you were handsome.” She smiled at him then jammed the pry bar between his teeth, using it as a lever to open his jaws.
He fought her the best he could and screamed in agony as his gums and teeth were bloodied.
“Mandy, get those batteries in there while his mouth is open.”
Mandy wedged a battery between the upper and lower molars on each side so Larry couldn’t close his mouth.
Alice slapped her hands together. “There we go, that’s perfect. Let’s begin. Get in there, Mandy, and start snapping off his front teeth.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so. That’s what the pliers are for, now get busy.”
Mandy could barely control her shaking hands as she leaned over Larry with the pliers. Her eyes clouded with tears as she began. He screeched with every snap. Blood and saliva dripped from his mouth to the sheet draped around him.
“Guess we won’t use that thing again, right, Mama?” Mariah watched enthusiastically.
“That’s right, honey.”
“There, it’s done. All of the front ones are broken off,” Mandy said.
“Stand back and let me see.” Alice wiped the blood from Larry’s mouth with a paper towel and took a look. “Nice job. Okay, get the sandpaper and Dremel tool.”
