Happy Reading Robert C. [Bob] Waggoner
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Murder at the Jetty
Robert C. Waggoner
Stacy Foreham Novella
-One-
If it wasn't storming or pouring down rain, Sam Splinter, most likely, was on the Bandon's South Jetty fishing. He was a local fixture and better known as 'Smiling Sam'. A nicer man would be hard to find. He loved to fish, but hated to eat them. He gave away all he caught. Besides he lived alone and could never eat all he caught.
After a week of rainy weather, it was a fine morning as spring had shown indicators of its turn in the barrel. Sam stood on his porch that had a view of the Pacific Ocean and the jetty below him. He puffed on his pipe sending blue clouds of smoke into the onshore breeze, which for most of the year was as regular as he wished his bowel movements were. The tools of his trade lay at his feet: camp stool, tackle box, fishing pole, back pack with fresh instant coffee crystals in a thermos bottle, a fried egg sandwich for later and a rain coat just in case. He was set and ready to go. He tapped his pipe on the porch roof support, tucked it in his pocket with waterproof stick matches, squirmed into his backpack, picked up his pole and tackle box. He struck out for a day's delight. However, an hour later, fishing, he'd reeled in on his hook not a fish, but an arm of a human.
At first Sam didn't know what to make of the thing on his line, as the sea water came and went with the waves. With pipe in hand, he carefully made his way down closer to the water's edge over large rocks. When reality struck, he looked around for help. He was alone on the jetty at that moment. He gingerly made his way to the top of the jetty where walking was no problem. He hurried towards the parking area where a public phone stood alongside the restrooms.
Smiling Sam called 911. Flo Medders took the call at the Bandon Police Department. She took down the information and told Sam to not move a detective would be there shortly.
Stacy Foreham, recently promoted to detective after the last homicide, responded to the 911 call. This would be her first case where she would be, unofficially, totally responsible rather than the Oregon State Police. Her heart was in her throat as she drove her new SUV to the call from the jetty.
Sam was shuffling from one foot to the other waiting for the police to arrive. When he saw the shinny blue SUV with its roof lights flashing, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had a fear that until the police arrived, he'd be responsible for the thing on the end of his line. Now, as he could barely see a head over the steering wheel, knew right off it was the Chief's daughter Stacy.
Stacy had hardly come to a stop when Sam with rapid fire words, told her everything, but she understood nothing. "Sam, slow down," Stacy said putting on a heavier coat. The wind had a real bite to it down here next to the ocean.
"Sorry Stacy, but can you imagine what a shock it was to reel in my line thinking I had a link cod, but in fact it, I think, is a human arm. To tell you the truth, right now I'm not sure what it is," Sam said.
"Well, Smiling Sam, what say we walk down and take a look? If it is a human arm, where is the rest of the body," Stacy said while hooking her arm into his while they walked back to where his pole and fishing gear was left.
Stacy reminded self to not jump to any conclusion. Observe, deduct and then question everything you saw in front of you. In this case, Sam was fishing perhaps a hundred yards up the jetty. Nothing could be seen either boat or people. The area was bereft of any living person. However, if in fact Sam had reeled in a human arm, then a body must be somewhere nearby? It was doubtful a killer would throw only the arm into the sea.
As they approached the fishing site, Sam slowed down as Stacy felt his reluctance to look again at the thing on the end of his line. She said, "Sam stay here on top and I'll go down and take a peek. If it's a human appendage, then the pole and line will have to stay here until the coroner arrives. Just a minute and I'll be right back."
Stacy worked her way down to where the pole lay against a rock. At first it didn't look like a human arm, but then as half was underwater, the part of the arm where it connects to the shoulder was high enough out of the surging sea while the hand and fingers were submerged. Also, Stacy could see where chunks had been removed by fish and crabs most likely. She squatted down for a better look. There was hair on the arm suggesting the arm was male; the size confirmed that notion.
Stacy didn't want any more predators snacking so she pulled the arm up using the fishing line high enough out of the water to protect it. Now what she needed was something to cover it from hungry sea gulls. Sam saw her looking up in the air and he said, "In my pack Stacy I've a rain coat you can use to cover it up with."
Stacy smiled up at him while she climbed the short distance to his fishing stuff. After covering the arm up, Stacy took out her small pocket knife and cut the line. She took the fishing pole up to the pack and other things that Sam had sitting on the rocks for his morning fishing. "Sam," she said, "you can go home and can take your gear with you. I don't think it's necessary to leave your fishing pole here Sam. About how far out were you casting when you snagged the arm?"
"I'd say maybe thirty feet or less from the edge Stacy." He looked at the sky which was rapidly clouding up as the wind was freshening while they were talking. "Weather coming in Stacy. You'd best head for cover soon. I'm going home and if you need me, well, you know where I live."
"Sam, keep it under your hat for the time being. What we don't need is a bunch of gawkers hanging around."
"I'll stay home today as it looks like we're in for it very soon now," said Sam looking at the sky. In no time he'd gathered his gear and headed home.
Stacy was left with a human arm under a rain coat on the Bandon Jetty. She took a deep breath and walked quickly to her SUV to make a call to Coos Bay and inform Dr. Marsha Stone what a fisherman caught on his pole at the jetty.
After telling the resident pathologist Dr. Stone, she then called Detective Rory Caltex of the Oregon State Police. Even though she was listed as a homicide detective, the Oregon State Police still had jurisdiction of any homicide in the county.
Rory promptly answered his cell phone. "Hello detective Foreham, what can I do for you this fine Wednesday morning," he said with a needle to her ribs. In the last year, they'd had three previous homicides in the Bandon area. After a rough first time introduction, the glowing red neck Detective Caltex made a huge mistake underestimating Police woman Stacy Foreham.
When they first met, she was searching for clues to a violent murder at the Bandon Links golf course. Rory saw a short, very young, blond policeperson mucking up a homicide investigation. What he didn't know was Stacy had graduated with honors from the University of Chicago majoring in criminology.
A long story short, he back peddled when he discovered Stacy was no dumb blond, but in fact quite brilliant investigating murder. She almost single handedly solved the golf course murder and the two subsequent homicides that plagued the Bandon community.
"Rory, Marsha is on her way to the jetty. A fisherman hooked a human arm and it's now under a raincoat on the jetty rocks. Bring a rain coat as it's starting to rain. Oh, by the way, I hope you're not too busy this morning," said a sarcastic Stacy.
"I'm on my way Stacy. You call, I come running. And, did you enjoy dinner Sunday with me?"
"Get real Caltex. Dinner and a kiss don't make you my hero. Get moving before I report you to the captain," she said laughing.
Next she called the station to have a patrolman come watch over the arm. Dan Swollow, it seemed, was always the one who had to put up the crime scene tape and then hang out while others were busy. He always said, 'It all pays the same.' But in reality it was very boring duty.
-Two-
"Chief, I'm down at the jetty. Smiling Sam hooked a human arm and it's now under a raincoat. I called Marsha and Rory. Both are on their way down now. It's male from what I can determine. We'll have to wait to see what Marsha says about how the arm became
detached from the body. I'll keep you informed as the day goes by. Any pearls of wisdom Chief," she asked because even though her father was the chief of police of Bandon, he was no man's dummy having spent his entire life in law enforcement. On the last three homicides, he'd given out bits and pieces of good information as the case developed.
"Not much to go on at this point detective. I'll call the Coast Guard to see if anyone had been reported missing. Also I'll check with the charter folks as well. Keep in touch Stacy," said her father. She and her father both used the official titles when at work so as not to confuse the issue. Sometimes he or she would make it personal with a name; such as now when he said, '…..in touch Stacy.'
It was just the two of them as Stacy's mother had lost a battle with the Big "C" not so many years ago. Indeed she was recruited hard by some government agencies due to her class position in her major degree. However, she decided that spending a few years with her father at home, would be beneficial for both of them. A senior policeman had just retired when she graduated. She filled the position. A year and half later, due to an increase in violent crime, the small tourist town decided, with some city fathers, to hire a detective for staff.
The position wasn't gratis. Quite the contrary, as Stacy had proved with the last three homicides she was more than qualified for the position.
Now the rain came down in earnest. She turned the motor on to keep the windows free of fogging up; besides it was a bit chilly out. While the heater and defroster went to work, so did her brain. Where was the rest of the body? Whose arm was it? Would divers be able to operate next to the jetty with its violent surging waters? Dragging would not work, she thought. Best check missing persons around the county. What else, she wondered as she saw Dr. Stone and the CSI crew coming along the narrow road to the jetty.
Stacy got out and walked to the restroom area where an awning reached out covering two picnic tables. It didn't protect much from the wind, but it did a fair job when it rained. Marsha got out of her van wearing a heavy coat designed especially for the coastal regions. "Hi Stacy. What happened to the nice spring morning we were having?"
"Maybe somebody up there is punishing us making you and I work out in the rain this morning. If you're ready, I'll lead the way. It's not far from here," said Stacy.
"Lead on detective. I like that title better than officer or police person. Let's see if we can make your first case a successful one," said Marsha as they walked down the jetty into the wind and rain.
As they approached the site, Stacy said, "It's under the blue raincoat. Be careful of the rocks they can be slippery when wet. Follow me please as I've found the easiest way down," said Stacy.
Stacy stood back while Marsha lifted the raincoat off the arm. Stacy noticed the CSI team and police Officer Dan coming down the jetty to join the pathologist. Turning back to watch Marsha, Stacy wondered what would be the first thing to do in locating the rest of the body.
Dr. Stone said, "Stacy the arm is male and with defined muscle content. From what I can glean, a sharp instrument cut off the arm at the shoulder. It could be a meat cleaver, ax, or something like a machete. I'll know more after putting it under the magnifier."
"With what you've said, we must consider foul play is apparent. Which means, where is the rest of the body," said Stacy.
"Indeed Stacy and that's why they pay you the big bucks," she said laughing standing up to give her crime scene team instructions.
"You know Marsha, I never asked if the new job came with a raise, but then the rent is very affordable," she said smiling. Stacy lived with her father in their house of so many years; it went back beyond her time on the planet.
Marsha turned and looked at the increasing waves coming with the wind. She needed to get the arm moved very soon. She ordered her team to bring a bag and gently place it in for safe keeping.
"Stacy, I've no idea how to search further for body parts here on the jetty. You might contact a university or a diving school," said Marsha.
"The Coast Guard might have an idea, I hope," said Stacy as she saw Rory Caltex and his partner Ben Razor drive up and park. With his long strides, Rory was onsite with a breathing hard partner who was barely medium height trying to keep pace with Rory.
"Good morning Dr. Stone," said Rory and Ben together.
"Same to you both," said Marsha. "I'll repeat what I told Stacy. The arm had been severed with a sharp heavy instrument such as an ax, a large butcher knife or a machete type knife."
"I see," said Rory, as he looked at the swells and waves crashing against the jetty, "this would mean finding the remains might be very difficult to do."
"I'd say you all have your work cut out for you. Meanwhile, I'll tell you more late this afternoon. I'd say the arm has been in the water anywhere from three days to a week."
"Did you see any identifying marks, such as a tattoo or mole," said Stacy.
"Not at first glance Stacy. I did see where a ring had been on his ring finger. That would indicate he was married or maybe it was some other type ring. Like I said, call me late this afternoon after 4pm would be good."
"Let's get out of the rain Stacy. My stomach is growling for some high cholesterol. How about some hot coffee to go with it," said Rory?
Walking to their cars, Stacy said, "Do you know of any recent missing persons coming across your desks, guys?"
"Nothing that I know of Stacy," said Ben. "I'll check around while our starving investigator fills up the hole."
"Not funny Ben. You delight in rubbing it in that you've a very tending wife that makes you breakfast every morning," said Rory.
"Yes I do Rory. And who then is the smartest of the two," asked Ben laughing while they climbed in their respective vehicles.
To Rory's chagrin, Stacy went to her office while he ate breakfast. She'd some phone calls to make and also to see what her father had to say about the Coast Guard.
A knock on the chief's door made him look up from playing with his pencil. It was a habit of his to have a new yellow pencil and a yellow legal pad on his desk. Nothing was ever written on the pad. All he did was stand the pencil upright, slide his two fingers down to the bottom, turn it end for end, and repeat over and over. Nobody ever said a word about it to him.
"Detective I've some information for you, but before you get too excited, it's not much to go on. The Coast Guard received a call about four days ago to say, it was a young girl's voice, "They're going to throw my daddy in the ocean." End of call. That's it and the charter folks say nobody has been lost overboard."
"My first thought is why didn't she call 911 instead of the Coast Guard. Well, it's something when we had nothing before. Dr. Stone said the arm had been hacked off with a big knife or ax. This case sounds or has the makings of something gruesome."
"What I'm worried about," said the chief "is the rapid increase in violent crime in our community. People are taking notice along with locking their doors when the leave or go to bed. Which, by the way, is a good thing no matter what. The community just gets over one homicide and then other occurs. Anyway, I presume the state police are in attendance?"
"Yes, they're over at the restaurant eating; or at least Rory is eating while Ben makes phone calls. I'll see you later chief," said Stacy walking to her office where she had a new white board along with a cork board for her use. Taking off her GOR-TEX jacket, hanging it up on the new myrtle wood tree, she took a new board marker, snapped off the cap and wrote what she knew on the board.
When Rory and Ben came in they saw right off the quote from the phone call to the Coast Guard: 'They're going to throw my daddy in the ocean.' Rory said, "What does that mean anyway. Why would a person call the Coast Guard and not the police?"
"The person said that the caller was a young girl maybe around 12 years old," said Stacy.
"We should never assume, but it's possible this girl's father is attached some way to the Coast Guard. Let's say she had the number in her cell and it was #1 on her list. She punched the button, bingo
, a sailor answers then somebody grabs her phone. We should contact the Coast Guard soonest," said Ben.
"I'll call Coos Bay and one of you here locally. Let's see if anybody is missing or on leave or something. If anyone is reported missing get the details. I realize it's too late for her daddy, but what about the rest of the family," Stacy said reaching for the desk phone.
* * *
A half hour later both Coast Guard stations reported no body missing or on leave. All was what it should be. For our three detectives, a glimmer of hope went out the window. However, Stacy wouldn't let it go. She felt it was relevant to the case somehow.
"The petty officer I talked to said they would do a fly over from the mouth of the river north where few people ever go. They're waiting for the weather to clear. Meanwhile, what do we do next," asked Stacy.
"That's a darn good question detective. You're the lead detective on this case and Ben and I are just along for the ride. We could, if you wanted to, make up a picnic lunch and we could drive to the north side of the jetty. Hike down the jetty and walk north in search of a body," said Rory.
"I'm not taking my new SUV out onto the beach. No way. We can take yours if you want to go so bad," said Stacy.
"I think it's a good idea, but we could be out and back before lunch. However, if we found a body or parts of a body, we might be stuck out there for hours. I vote we take pizza and fried chicken," said Ben.
It was settled and passed on to Flo at the front desk. Flo was nice to call and order their lunch. Stacy ordered a medium for Flo and the chief. Flo smiled showing off her dimples and double chin. Florence Medders had been a fixture at the Bandon Police Station since she graduated from SOCC. Her diploma was framed hanging on the wall. It seemed to all the staff, Flo was always having a good day. Stacy thought nobody appreciated life more than Flo. Ever since her mother passed on, Flo had taken over the role of a motherly aunt. Flo's secret desire was for Stacy to hook up with Rory Caltex. Time will reveal all, is what Flo thought.
Murder Mysteries Page 21
