"If memory serves me correctly, there's an airport down there at Cape Arago. Let's go down and see what is what. But first let's stop in Bandon to ask my father a question," said Stacy.
In Bandon, the wind was absent for a change making it rather a warm day. When Stacy got out of the SUV, she took her light wind breaker coat off. Inside she found the chief playing with his pencil staring out the side window. He motioned her to come in. "Chief, she said, ''Do you know anybody in Cape Blanco who keeps an eye on what's going on around the area? It's rumored that Rolf Peters and or Glen Levers owns a house down there somewhere. Also, the judge's residence received a call from the kidnappers demanding one hundred thousand in three days time."
Chief Ray Foreham thought about what his daughter asked. He said, "The airport office, such as it is, has the reputation of an old guys place to hang out and drink bad coffee. The guy who volunteers to watch the place is Ron Snively. He'd know what news of the area is. Good news on the daughter being still alive. By the way, Dan said he attached the device. Where you off to now?"
"Cape Blanco and then back to 7 Devils to search the cabin on the Portland lawyer. Have to run now chief. Tell Dan to keep an eye on Phil Winters."
Rory had been talking to Flo while Stacy was talking to the chief. He asked Flo, "What can I do to make her see that I'm a changed man and have seen the light. I know I made a big mistake at the golf course, but she shouldn't hold it against me forever. Help me out here Flo."
"Just make sure no 'men are better than women' remarks come out of your mouth. Telling her is not the way; showing her is the way. Good luck detective," said Flo as Stacy came back out of the chief's office.
Her coat off, widows down, no wind to speak of, she let the wind blow through her short hair. "Have you been to Cape Blanco before," asked Rory.
"When I was a little girl we went there for a cold picnic. The wind is always blowing there. How about you?"
"Nope first time. Who we going to see," Rory asked.
"An old timer by the name of Ron Snively at the airport. My father said he and some other old guys drink coffee and play cards there. Let's see what happens when we arrive."
They were quiet until it was time to take Airport Road to the right. "The airport was built during WWII for flight training. The state finally took it over some years ago. A few tourists fly in to see the famous lighthouse is about all I know," said Stacy as a single car sat behind a fairly large building. They parked and walked around to the front door. An old man was just locking the door when he heard footsteps. He frowned and asked, "What can I do for you?"
Both Stacy and Rory flashed their detective badges seeing the bushy eyebrows rise up from the sagging folds. "Come in then. Let's see what I can do for you," said Ron.
A card table and four metal fold up chairs sat around the old wood table. With his hands on the table, fingers interlocked, he looked at both of them curiously. Stacy said, "My father is Chief Ray Foreham of Bandon Police Department. He gave us your name Mr. Snively. We're investigating the murder and kidnapping of Judge Guy Nethers and his missing daughter. Specifically, we heard a rumor that either Rolf Peters of Fairview or Glen Levers might own a house here or near the airport. It's possible a man by the name of Bruce Livingstone flys down here from Portland. He's a lawyer. Does any of this ring a bell Mr. Snively?"
"I'll say it does. We read the newspaper and watch TV detectives. What I didn't know was you were looking for a home or place owned by Rolf Peters. His place is at the end of the Airport Road. Sometimes a caretaker comes by and other visitors that I've no idea who they are come. It's an old place that his father had built back in the twenties. There's a small restaurant just before you turn off of Airport Road to here. Mrs. Albertson, see's every car that goes by. I was just going up there when you guys showed. How about a cup of coffee and some homemade pie. It'll be good tasty pie I'm sure."
After looking at each other, "Let's go. I can always eat pie," said Rory looking at Stacy who just rolled her eyes at him.
Mrs. Albertson was everybody's dream of a good cook. She looked the part as well. Not only was that she very friendly, but humble receiving complements on her cooking. And surprising, the place was half full of pie eaters.
Having two detectives in her café, she sat with them and let the regulars help themselves. Rory asked for two pieces with ice cream if she had it. "Of course we have ala mode young man. I bring it to you in a jiffy."
The four chatted about Bandon and the towns south to Gold Beach. Then finally, Stacy asked, "Mrs. Albertson, what can you tell us about the Rolf Peters place down the road here."
"I rarely see him, but his friend Dave Levers used to come and go at will. Same could be said about that awful man Phil Winters. He has been here off and on for two weeks now. He claims he takes care of the place. I don't know what he does."
"Have you seen Dave Levers lately," asked Stacy.
"I'm not sure about that. I may have seen him about dark a few nights ago, but the light is not good and my old eyes may have been not so dependable as they used to be," said Lois Albertson.
"Have you seen any other strangers in town pass by that didn't look like tourists," asked Stacy.
"Can't say as I have or haven't. Let me think about that for a day or so and then let's see what the memory brings forth," said Lois laughing at herself.
Rory said, "This pie, hands down, is the best I've eaten. The cinnamon sauce is to die for."
"I agree and I'd like to take a slice to my father if you have any left," said Stacy.
"I sure do. I've lots of them. How about a whole pie for your staff in the station. Is Flo still there?"
"Yes she is. I was thinking about her, but didn't want to seem greedy," said Stacy.
Stacy paid cash after an argument that she won. She told Lois if no pay, the rule of gift giving was not acceptable. They left their business cards and drove down to the house in question.
When Rory pulled up to the house, it was all quiet with no cars around. They walked to the front door noticing that if Phil the caretaker was on the job, he should be fired. Weeds were growing up and the place looked deserted. The front window was so dirty you couldn't see in. Rory knocked on the door. All was quiet. He knocked louder; still nobody around.
They walked around the house looking in, but the windows were so grimy it was hard to see in. Back at the front door, Rory tried the door. It wasn't locked. He swung the door inward and looked inside. Because it was dark inside and a bright sun beating down on them, it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. Then he saw a person sitting in an old overstuffed arm chair. His head lay to one side. Rory took out his weapon realizing the person was dead as the particular smell of a dead person hit his nose.
Stacy peeked in and with her keen eye saw the person in the chair was Glen Levers. Well, who would have believed that he'd be found murdered in a house in Cape Blanco.
-Ten-
Being careful not to muck up the crime scene, Stacy being the smaller of the two, carefully walked on her toes to the body to make sure death was established. She saw a hole in the temple made by a small caliber weapon. She simply guessed he'd been dead for about a day or so. She looked around for the weapon, but didn't see it off hand. Stacy returned to the door. She told Rory what she had seen and then said, "Who do we call Rory. This is Curry County and Gold Beach is the county seat."
"We have jurisdiction for the Southwestern part of the state. I'll call Dr. Stone." He looked at his watch knowing it was about five pm. He sighed thinking it would be a long night ahead.
After calling Dr. Stone and Ben, who told them the search warrant had been delayed until the next day, they taped off the crime scene waiting for Dr. Stone and her CSI investigators to arrive.
First was Ben, who said after he parked out of the way, "Here's some dinner I picked up on the way. I called your father Stacy and he asked me to pick up some things for you at the house. Here's a coat and he said your favorite hat."
Rory open
ed the back of the SUV for a table. Ben had been thoughtful as deli sandwiches, salads and drinks gratefully accepted. "I called Marsha and asked her if they wanted me to pick up some dinner and she told me they would call and order pizza. They should be right behind me. What can you tell me what you saw, before sealing off the crime scene?"
"All we saw was Glen Levers sitting in an old stuffed arm chair, head lolled off to one side, with a hole in his temple from a small caliber hand gun," said Stacy, while Rory unable to talk due to his cheeks bulging with roast beef.
"What else have you discovered about this remote house," asked Ben.
"It's supposedly owned by Rolf Peters and the caretaker, not our words, is Phil Winters. We talked to my father's friend at the airport, Ron Snively, who introduced us to Ms.Apple Pie, Lois Albertson, owner of the only café in town. Between them they watch the traffic come and go. They've seen Phil Winters lately and in the past, Dave Levers. However, recently Lois is not sure, but thinks she has seen Dave Levers drive by," said Stacy taking a bite of her potato salad.
"Any sign of the little girl," asked Ben.
"I did a quick look around, but saw no evidence of anybody else there. We'll look closer later. Tell us again what the caller said when he rang the house phone at the judges' residence," asked Rory, washing his dinner down with a giant ice tea.
"Here's a quote: 'Have one hundred thousand in twenties ready in three days or the girl feels some real pain. I'll call with further instructions' and he hung up."
"Here's Marsha now," said Stacy. Stacy looked at her watch. It was just past seven pm. She looked up at the night sky seeing literally millions of stars glittering so peacefully in a setting that was unfathomable: the universe.
"Good evening detectives," said Marsha stepping out with arms stretching to those stars above. "What do we have in this remote place that sports an ancient history?"
"Dave Levers is sitting in an old chair with a hole in his head. A lot of people will be quietly pleased to read about it in the paper. I only tip toed to make sure he was not breathing. Other than that, nothing has been touched," said Stacy.
The photographer was first on the scene with the CSI team going through the rest of the house. Meanwhile, all of them discussed the case. Marsha said, "So the kidnappers are holding the little girl somewhere unknown. That's not good."
"We've looked high and low and have come up empty," said Rory. "Now we've a dilemma in that we thought Levers was the perp for the judge and kidnapping. Or at least the master mind behind it. Now someone took some revenge it appears."
"I'm leaning to a woman who's been done wrong. We've two of them that we know of. I think we have to assume that Dave Levers was the person holding the purse strings. Guys like Phil Winters and that lawyer Bruce Livingstone were simply hanger- on. If the money man is dead, then what happens to the others? I'm not sure a guy like Phil Winters has the brain capacity to run a kidnapping operation. The lawyer, on the other hand, might be the replacement, but would he sacrifice his career for a measly hundred grand? I don't think so. Unless we're missing something, or someone, the pieces of the puzzle don't fit just right," said Stacy.
"I see I'm being called to task. I'll be back with you soon," said Marsha walking quickly away with her bag followed by her silent assistant.
"You think either Sara Tweet or Shirley Burger for this Cape Blanco hit," asked Rory smiling downing the last of his ice tea then crunching up the remaining ice cubes.
"That remains to be seen after we put them in the hot seat. We don't know yet for sure it wasn't suicide, but in my mind, no way he killed himself. If the weapon is missing, then we need to see if our two leading suspects, Sara or Shirley own a hand gun. I hate to use a well worn cliché, but 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.'"
"I'm not sure I want to be the recipient of that wrath," said Rory. "I've a hard time finding a woman let alone pissing her off because I'm vacillating between two of them," said Rory.
"If you were Tall Man, hell might be a cool place rather than a pissed off girl friend. You've already dug a deep hole that you're climbing out of. When you reach the surface, take stock of what put you in the hole to start with," said a woman who knew what she was talking about.
If it hadn't been dark out, Rory's face would be seen the color of the local cranberries when ripe. He thought he'd only put his size 12 shoe in his mouth, but now he finds out he's in hole without a ladder. Never mind, he thought, I'm a better man for where I put myself in today rather than yesterday. Maybe she'll throw me a rope?
They walked over to the house with Ben smiling following the two of them. Marsha motioned all to come in near her. She said, "Indeed small caliber as no exit wound. Powder burns on the head suggests close quarters. I'd say death occurred about twenty-four hours ago. If he killed himself, the weapon would be evident, but unless he's sitting on it, murder is most definitely the cause of death. We searched his pockets and only the usual things were found: wallet, keys, some pocket change and a small knife. No notes in his shirt pocket or pants. Here's his wallet. Maybe there's something there for you."
"Thanks Dr. Stone. Call when you do the autopsy. I'm curious what he'd been eating lately," said Stacy.
"Oh I forgot, silly me. I found some medium length brown hair on his shoulder. I think you need samples for those two women you mentioned."
* * *
The ride back north to Bandon was mostly silence between Stacy and Rory. Ben stayed for awhile to snoop around; as he usually does. On similar homicides, Ben usually finds a clue where the CSI guys missed something. In Ben's opinion, it was the small things that mattered, not the very obvious.
Stacy was thinking the same thing: a possible frame up. It was entirely possible another actor in this play was placing the blame on either Sara Tweet of Shirley Burger. The interviews should help clarify the somewhat murky waters.
She thought of Phil Winters as the perp who killed his boss. Stacy had him for the judges' murder under orders from Dave Levers; that was holding at 80% a done deal. However, whoever murdered Dave Levers had a motive yet to be determined. Sure it could be a victim of past whom was scammed; or it might be the lawyer wanting to assume the lead role; or then again, it just might be Rolf Peters stepping up to the plate for unknown reasons. Last, it might be a dark horse that was standing right in front of everybody.
The number one question was: who kidnapped the girl and where is she?
Rory brought her out of the night dream saying, "Hey, we're here. Let's sleep on things and talk in the morning, okay?"
"Yes, good idea Caltex. I want to see what Phil's been doing and then we can interview the two women that are or were in the victims' life. Oh, by the way, when's your birthday?"
He looked at her as she got out. She stood waiting. He said, "It's July 4th. Why?"
"Never mind, I've an idea for a present if you keep up the good work," she said closing the door. He watched her walk away remembering the Sunday night kiss that was just a lip only, but god it tasted good. In appearance, her lips didn't seem full, but when they met, oh, my, so soft. He drove off to his cold sterile apartment. I'm learning, he thought.
Stacy let herself in with her key. The hall light was on and her father was snoring in front of the TV. All other lights were off. She gently woke her father up. He opened one eye and said, "Is it time to go to work already daughter?"
"Nope, it's after midnight, but you've a few more hours of pleasant dreams. I'll see you for breakfast." She kissed him on the forehead. He murmured a pleasant sound. Stacy took a quick shower and hit the rack. She set her alarm for six am. There was plenty to do this day.
Breakfast was oatmeal, with a touch of butter and brown sugar. She loved it with raisins too. Whole wheat toast and she was good to go for a few hours without a refill.
She told her father the whole story summarizing where she could; details when necessary. All he said was a big 'hurrump' and ate his oatmeal. Later she'd get his take on what transpired, but for now he n
eeded to stew away for awhile.
At the office, Stacy called in Dan for a tracking report. In no time he was in her office with his notebook. She was writing notes on the white board so he waited while checking out her backside. His eyes didn't linger there and that was good for him because Stacy could feel when men were checking out her butt. When she finished, she asked him to give his report.
"The first afternoon, I placed the tracking device while he was in the supermarket buying some beer. He took his beer and other things back home. I wanted to stay with him, so I stayed on shift. Around seven pm he comes back to town. I'm parked at the station as he drives by heading southbound. I follow a mile or so behind him. In Langlois, he stops for fuel. I saw the truck was stationary so I waited outside of town. I asked the kid at the station and told me that the grouchy man was buying gas. As he neared Cape Blanco, he turned right to the ocean on Airport Road. According to my map, he went to the end of the road and stopped. I found a place to hide and wait. Around ten pm he drives to Bandon and home.
Today, he went to Coquille and then out to Fairview. He was there only a half hour and then went back to Bandon to Jake's tavern. He spent the next four hours shooting pool and drinking beer. After that he went home. He's still there at this point in time," said Dan.
"Great job Dan. Stay with him. By the way, in Cape Blanco last night we found the body of Dave Levers shot in the head. Keep it under your hat for awhile. According to Dr. Stone, Levers died around midnight the same night you saw Phil Winters drive to Airport Road in Cape Blanco. Once again, great job and write a report on your activities please."
Dan stood up and was beaming with happiness. Stacy thought the smile would be there until noon. As a matter of fact, the smile was off and on all day long.
Rory called at eight am. He said, "Ben will stay here and wait for the search warrant. I thought I'd motor down or either that meet you in Coquille for an interview with Sara Tweet?"
Murder Mysteries Page 26
