"Not right now, and thanks for the background information. I'll be looking into what you told me very soon. Let's watch a movie?"
* * *
The next morning, after a fitful nights sleep, Stacy went to her office early. She let herself in and turned off the security alarms. At her desk she made some notes:
1. Run check on Judge Nethers and wife; especially wife.
2. Find the address of Dave Edwards in Coquille.
3. Check on Glen Lever in Salem penitentiary.
4. Talk to Edwards' son in Portland.
5. Judges daughter and her disability. Whereabouts?
6. Transcripts of the Lever trial. Newspapers.
7. To be continued….
Flo walked in just as Stacy was leaving for the autopsy. She stopped Stacy and said, "I've some blueberry muffins here. You love them so have one for the road. Also, here is a pint of cold milk to wash it down with. Have a nice day Stacy," Flo said smiling being her usual jovial self.
Stacy sent a prayer for Flo to the big guy in the sky for saving her hunger pangs for the morning. The weather, she noticed was not so bad with broken clouds and no rain. Actually the air smelled rather fresh this morning. Like a good driver, she obeyed the speed limit all the way to Coos Bay.
At the morgue she found Marsha in her office drinking fresh pressed coffee. It smelled so good, but tasted so bad to Stacy. After the good mornings were passed around, Marsha said, "I think our victim is Judge Guy Nethers Stacy."
"Yes, Ben Razor thought so too. I talked to his wife and she told me he is up the coast fishing. He's been on vacation for five days. No pun intended by there's something fishy with her story. The daughter is supposedly in Reedsport with grandma. Rory instructed her to ID the body this am. Let's see what happens."
"Well, let's get to it shall we," said Marsha standing up drinking off what was left in her cup. Stacy was coming out of the dressing room when Rory and Ben came in. He flashed a big smile and a neck bow. Ten minutes later they joined her in the cold morbid autopsy theatre. Marsha was making her usual prep work with the audio and her second was preparing the tools of the trade. A small wheeled stainless table sat next to the main table that obviously was the detached arm.
"Let's get started," Dr. Stone said. While they watched her peel back the sheet to the waist, the body looked worse than it did when it first came out of the sea. Sad that such a nice man, it was known, laid there dead in the prime of his life.
Rory said into her ear, "CSI says they got prints and indeed it's Judge Nethers." Stacy nodded her head taking in a wiff of his Old Spice aftershave. Of course he took a big sniff of her freshly shampooed hair. She smiled knowing how enamored he was over her.
When they opened him up, no seawater was evident. He didn't drown. Later she confirmed he bleed to death. The arm was his as it matched perfectly. Marsha said the weapon was maybe a hatchet or a large butcher knife. Unfortunately, she thought he was alive when somebody hacked his arm off. It almost made Stacy sick to think about it. There were no other marks on his body to speak of that led to his death. Murder ended the Judge's life.
Afterwards in Marsha's office, a knock on her door from her secretary telling her that Mrs. Nethers was here. Marsha knew how to handle the grieving wife so she said, "I'll be right back and let's all meet in the lunch room where you can ask her some questions if you desire."
Mrs. Nethers was not what Stacy expected of a judge's wife. Her stereotype was tallish, thin, sophisticated and lovely to look at. Intelligence was also on her list of requirements.
Instead Gerri Nethers was quite the contrary with a squat body on the dumpy side. She was dressed in sweats that sort of reeked stale body odor. If Stacy wasn't mistaken Gerri Nethers hadn't seen a shower for a few days or longer. Her mouse brown hair was mostly straight and listless. No makeup on her mid thirties age bracket. In fact, Gerri was a mess to look at. It was apparent she was going through some very rough times.
Marsha gave Gerri a steaming cup of hot coffee. All realized a caffeine buzz wasn't want this lady needed but some stimulate was necessary, in Stacy's opinion. After everyone was introduced, Marsha took the lead and said, "Our sympathies are with you and your family Ms. Nethers. I'm sorry, but for the official record we need you to identify the body. I'm sure just a quick look with be enough for you to say yes or no."
"I can do it," Gerri said in a shaky voice. She took a sip of coffee with two hands on the mug. Stacy was sure she had been practicing using two hands for a few days as both her hands were shaking somewhat. "I'm at my wit's end. He is very athletic and how could he just fall into the ocean and drown?"
Stacy jumped in and said, "Ms. Nethers, we are positive he was murdered and didn't die of drowning. What we need to find out is prior to his leaving on vacation, his exact plans. Also did he receive any threatening phone calls?"
"I suspected he was killed, but if it had been an accident, it would have been easier to live with, I think. I guess it's time for the truth and not hide the events up to this point in time."
"May we record the statement Ms. Nethers," asked Stacy.
Gerri gave it a few seconds thought and then shrugged her massive shoulders. "Okay I guess. My life is down the toilet anyway. I've lost both my husband and my daughter it would seem."
Marsha dug out a small recorder that was in a drawer in the lunch room. Nice forethought, Stacy smiled. After it was tested and ready to go, Stacy said, "Start at the beginning and after you are through with your story, I'll ask a few questions. First your name, address and relationship to the deceased."
"Gerri L. Nethers, spouse of Guy G. Nethers of Skyview Drive, Coos Bay, Oregon. Six days ago my husband came home both angry and apprehensive about something that was bothering him. I asked him what was wrong. He told me that he had a slight problem that needed to be worked out. My husband was not a heavy drinker at all. I'd say three times a week we'd have a cocktail before dinner and that's all. I watched as he went to the wet bar and poured himself a half glass of straight scotch. He drank half at first and then finished it off a few seconds later. Our house overlooks the city somewhat and he went out of the deck staring at the evening light that was slowly turning to darkness.
Our daughter came in and saw her father. She ran to him saying 'daddy, daddy' over and over. He turned and picked her up for a hug and kiss. Guy had a big smile and he so loves his little girl. I might add she is a little mentally retarded, but has shown signs of improvement. For eleven years old, we hope for the best. Anyway, at dinner Guy tells me he's going on vacation for five days beginning in a day or so. He loves to fish the jetty's up from Bandon to Astoria.
After dinner, I'd say around eight pm the phone rings, not the house phone, but his cell phone. He listens and then turns beet red and with anger; I've not seen very often he screams into the phone saying, 'I'll not be threatened. You made the grievous mistake of cheating. I only did my job. You must live with the consequences and it's apparent I need to report you to the authorities for threatening me and my family,' and he hung up. I asked him what that was all about and he told me it was a convicted felon who wanted some revenge to justify his self centered ego. But really, I could see he was deeply affected by the whole situation.
The next day, he told me he would be leaving that afternoon on vacation. I told him I was called by my mother who lives in Reedsport. She needed some help. I told him the housekeeper would watch Anna until he came home. I said I should be home by six pm at the latest." Tears were welling up in her eyes and all knew they would spill over soon. Rory handed her his handkerchief. She dabbed her eyes and continued, "I arrived at five thirty and found the house empty. Both my husband and Anna my daughter were not there. On the kitchen table, a post-it note said, "No police" and then I panicked. I didn't know what to do. I sat there for awhile and then the house phone rang. The caller said: "We've both your husband and daughter. 'Don't call the police. I'll call back in a few days to give you more instructions.' I almost went crazy with wor
ry. Anyway, after two days he called again. "Your retarded daughter is unharmed. To keep it that way, gather up two hundred thousand dollars by Friday, which is three days from now. I'll call back with instructions. Don’t be stupid Gerri, its only money. I know your father can afford it. Here is your daughter to say hello. "Hi mommy, daddy is gone. I'm all alone. Come get me." There, now go get the money.' And he hung up.
My father refused the request for money. He told me he didn't have it anymore. It went down the tube in 2008 he said. Well, on Friday I get the call. I told him I can't get the money. He said 'Your husband is dead, your daughter is next' and hung up. That's all I know at this time." All watched her head fall into her arm on the table in complete agony, blubbering incoherent words.
Stacy finally spoke what she had been thinking, "I can't think of a worse form of torture for a wife and mother. This person or persons are bottom feeders of the criminal world. Life is too good for him or them," she said vociferously.
"We need a tap on her phone line and advertise the fact we have ransom money," said Rory.
"A picture of the daughter and of course, a reward for information leading to and such things," said Ben.
"We need a female officer to take care of this grieving widow and mother," said Stacy. "Also, Marsha is busy so let's move this operation over to your office."
Arriving at the state police office in North Bend, Rory had located a female officer to take Gerri Nethers to her home. Once inside the office, Stacy was pumped to nail this person who tore up a nice family for basically no good reason. "Let me tell you what my father told me last night guys," said Stacy.
She related the story of the silver tongue that'd done a number on some investors a few years back. When she finished, Ben made a call to see what was what with Glen Levers up in Salem. Fifteen minutes later, a call back revealed Glen Levers had been released for good behavior two weeks ago. Ben wrote down his probation officer's phone number and hung up.
He said, "They released Glen Levers two weeks ago. I'll check with his probation officer as to his home address, but I doubt it will prove he lives there."
"Okay,'' said Stacy sitting down, "let's start with the original trial transcripts. He had to live somewhere in this area. The chances are good he's still in the area holed up somewhere locally with maybe a friend?"
Rory said, "I know you guys think I'm crazy, but why don't we have lunch and make a plan for the afternoon. I'm all for a working lunch. Let's call in some Chinese soggy food."
"Actually, that's a good idea Rory," said Stacy with a half smile to him which landed square in his heart. Ben saw the results and inwardly chuckled.
Rory called in the order after he recovered from a smitten shot to the heart. Stacy made a list of three lines on a legal pad from top to bottom. Three names above each line. First was her name, then Rory and last was Ben. Under her name she wrote the name of Dave Edwards on Fat Elk Rd. She repeated her father's story from last night that Edwards lost a small fortune to the scammer Glen Levers. After that she wrote down a note to contact his son the dentist in Portland.
Rory would follow up the trail transcripts and the subsequent cases the judge had been working on and in the past.
Ben would locate the parole officer about Glen Levers. After that he'd find where Glen lived before going to prison. Also any friends he might be still in the area.
The legal pad was copied and tacked to the crime scene board. Stacy would go to Bandon after her visit to the Edwards residence. Rory would also call for a tap on the phone of Gerri Nethers. As the Chinese food arrived by a pimply faced girl, they were delighted that it tasted good for takeout.
-Five-
Stacy with her GPS and onboard computer, found the Edwards farm with ease. She was a little ashamed for not having called beforehand that she was coming. But she felt the old man would be home or at the worst, at the doctor. She found his place from the old wood sign that said: 'The Edwards Dairy'. The sign was hanging at a 20 degree angle along with a very weather beaten appearance. As a matter of fact, the whole place looked weather beaten. She'd been told that the dairy farm had once been the showplace of the valley. The original homestead consisted of over 200 acres of prime bottom land next to the Coquille River. And then with one swipe, it was all gone, like the old days when the whole valley flooded with ten feet of flood waters, carrying with it hundreds of rats floating on drift wood that would eventually empty into the sea at Bandon.
All the houses sat on raised foundations to keep the flood waters out of the door. Stacy parked and listened to the silence that probably at one time was broken by dogs barking and cows singing for release of the full bag. She climbed the stairs and knocked on the door. While waiting she heard a car coming and when it passed the house, it honked its horn. The door opened and there stood Dave Edwards with the most piercing grey eyes she'd ever seen. They bore into her like a drill into myrtle wood. He said, "Yes, I'm not buying or selling, but as your car looks official, come in."
He turned and walked mostly upright with only a slight look of stooped shoulders. He led her to the kitchen where a fire was burning in the old wood stove. Surprising, the kitchen was spotless and a tea kettle was boiling away. "Sit down young lady and tell me what an old man can do for you. You're my first visitor since I can't remember when. I feel I should call the Sentinel for a news report. Would you care for a cup of coffee or tea?"
"Tea please, Mr. Edwards. My name is Stacy Foreham from Bandon."
"I know. Your father called this morning to tell me you'd come visiting me soon. He told me I'm to tell you everything about that shyster Glen Levers. Well, here are the tea bags, spoon and mug. I'll have some decaf myself."
"We found Judge Guy Nethers body in the sea water off the north jetty in Bandon. He'd been murdered. In addition, as of this morning, we find that his eleven year old daughter had been kidnapped about five days ago. Specifically, I'd like to know who he hung out with, lived nearby, socialized with and any other acquaintances he might have had who still are considered friends or such things."
"Well, he lived in Coos Bay and had an office there somewhere. I never went there so can't help you much on that account. His side kick was a guy by the name of Rolf Peters. From what I remember Rolf got off with a slap on the wrist for his part of the scam. Rolf was from this county. He had, or has a small farm out Fairview way. As far as I know, he's still there. Another guy, Phil Winters, was also another local man. He was never charged as he claimed ignorance of the scheme. He lives down your way somewhere. Sara Tweet ran the office, but I don't know much about her. She lives in Coquille someplace."
Just then the front door opened and soon in walked a nice looking late middle aged lady. She looked at Dave first and then back to Stacy. She had a smile, but it was wary. Dave said, "This is my wife's younger sister Shirley Burger. She keeps an eye on me and I'm awful happy she does. I think without here I'd have followed my wife to where she went."
They shook hands and Shirley sat the bag of groceries on the counter. She said, "I hope I didn't interrupt any important conversation. Forgive me if I did. I have to run back home very soon."
"No, indeed not Shirley. We were talking about who might know the shyster Glen, and as you might not know, Judge Guy Nethers is dead. He's been murdered. On top of that, his daughter has been kidnapped. It's all very confusing I'd say. Stacy is my friend's daughter down Bandon way," said Dave.
Stacy could tell he was more, or wanted to be more, than just friends with Shirley Burger. Now she knew why the kitchen was so spotless. She turned and said, "I've read about you Stacy. You're our shinning light with your prowess of detective work. Your reputation precedes you. Believe it or not, I'd heard that the judge might have been killed. Rumors fly around the county. I'm very sorry for his death and I feel for his wife with the daughter being kidnapped. Do you have any idea who might have murdered the judge?"
"Not at the present time we don't. But we've some leads were perusing that show promise. I'm worki
ng with the Oregon State Police detectives out of North Bend. This is our fourth case and we hope to solve it if possible. Now if I might ask what is your son's name and telephone number please?"
"Just a minute let me get it for you," said Dave. When they were alone, Shirley sat down at the table and said:
Stacy, Dave is very delicate so please don't upset him. His son is dear to him and takes care of his father very well. I would like to help if I can. Not sure what that might be, but if I can, call me. Here is my number, well, when Dave gets back I'll write it down for you," said Shirley.
Stacy left with mixed feelings. On the one hand it seemed Dave Edwards was well taken care of, but on the other hand, there was something bothering Stacy about Shirley Burger. Oh well, she thought; time to head to the barn.
In Bandon, just as the hidden sun was falling into the Pacific Ocean, it started to rain again. As she pulled into her driveway she saw her father's car in its usual place. It had been a long day and she needed a shower to wash off the smell of the morgue.
After a quick hello, she let the hot water run across her body. She didn't know how Marsha did it day in and day out being surrounded by odor and death. To each their own I guess, as she toweled dry. She was hungry. The Chinese food didn't last very long as its reputation states.
The smell of chicken cooking hit her nose first and then she remembered the left over salad. What more could a girl want, she thought. "How it go today detective," ask her father.
"Interesting turn of events. The judge's wife came in to ID the body. It would seem the perps who murdered the judge also kidnapped the eleven year old daughter. They asked for two hundred thousand, but the wife's father, who I guess was at one time wealthy, couldn't come up with the funds. The perps said they would kill the girl too. We've got a tap on the phone; the shyster Dave was set free two weeks ago. We're looking into all of his past acquaintances thinking he might be hiding out in the county somewhere. I also saw Dave Edwards and his sister-in-law Shirley Burger. They seem overly fond of each other. Nothing wrong with that in my book. I didn't learn much, but something about Shirley is nagging at my brain. Tomorrow will be a busy day and now I'm starving father. That chicken smells so good."
Murder Mysteries Page 23
