BLOOD RIVER (A Trask Brothers Murder Mystery)

by C. E. Nelson

  “Mr. Billings, I’m Sheriff Trask. I’d like to ask you a couple of questions.”

  Billings looked up at Dave but did not respond immediately. “Yeah, sure. Have a seat.”

  Dave guessed that Billings was in his early fifties. He had brown hair with a few flicks of grey that was receding from his forehead. He looked as if he kept himself in shape, but his sunburned white skin said he worked inside and didn’t get out much. Dave could see the outline of sunglasses on his face, ‘raccoon eyes’ as the guides called it, from being on the water a few days.

  “Where are you from Mr. Billings?”

  “Chaska, that’s west of the Cities.”

  “And what do you do?”

  “I’m a senior vice president for a manufacturing firm there.”

  “Have you lived there long?”

  “About twelve years,” he replied in a monotone voice.

  Dave mostly wanted to get the man to relax but, so far, his answers remained short. “Any family?”

  “A son at the U and another that just graduated. My wife stays home.”

  “And you have been here since last Monday. Is that correct?”

  “Yeah. It was our last night,” Billings replied. He appeared on the edge of tears.

  “And how did you end up at Allen’s Lodge?”

  “We drove up,” he replied with a confused look before realizing what he had been asked. “Oh, Lee booked the trip on the internet. He’d been here a couple of years ago and did really well fishing. He said the food and cabins were great.”

  Dave had wanted to get him talking about the deceased before moving on to the subject of the killing. “And how long have you known Mr. Strom?”

  “Um, Lee is a neighbor. I guess I’ve know him about ten years.”

  “Were you with Mr. Strom last night?”

  “Yeah. We had dinner at the lodge like usual and then had a few drinks at the bar before we went back to the cabin.”

  “And what time was that?” interrupted Dave.

  “I’d guess about midnight. Anyway we went back to the cabin and since it was the last night we decided to have a few more. We ran out of ice so I went to the lodge to see if I could get some.”

  “Do you remember what time it was when you left the cabin?”

  “Yeah, it was one thirty,” he stated, holding his cup like he was afraid it would run away.

  “And how do you know that?”

  “Because Lee said we needed ice and wanted me to go get it at the lodge. I looked at my watch and told him it was one thirty and the lodge was probably closed.”

  Dave made a note of the time. “OK. So what happened then?”

  “Lee was really drunk so I grabbed a bowl from the kitchen and went to the sliding doors at the lodge. They were locked but I could still see there was a light inside so I tried the door on the side. It was locked too so I just came back to the cabin.”

  “You were only gone a few minutes then?”

  “I stopped and talked to a couple of guys I ran into by the lodge for a few minutes. I don’t think I was gone more than ten minutes, probably less,” he replied and then his eyes grew wide. “You don’t think I had something to do with this do you?” he asked, his voice growing louder.

  “No sir. We just need to establish the timing of the events,” responded Dave as he tried to calm Billings, making a note to get the names of the men he talked to. “What happened when you returned to the cabin?”

  “Um, I pulled open the door and there was this big guy with black hair with his back to me bent over. I yelled at him and he turned to look at me. When he turned I could see Lee on the floor.” Billings tried to lift the cup to his lips but his hands shook, spilling coffee over the side.

  “It’s OK Mr. Billings. I know that this is not easy,” said Dave as he reached to pour some coffee from the brown plastic carafe on the table for himself. Damn, no cup. He got up and grabbed an empty cup from the kitchen area as well as a towel to wipe off the table. Returning to the table he said, “Could the man have been there before you left to get ice?”

  Billings focus returned to the time before he had left. “I don’t see how. We were in there over an hour and I know we were both in the bathroom and I was in the bedroom a couple of times. I mean, I wasn’t looking for anyone, so I suppose he could have hid under a bed or something, but I don’t think so.”

  “Alright, good. So the man was bent over your friend. Then what happened?”

  “The guy stood up and turned toward me with this big knife in his hand and ran right at me! God, I thought I was dead. Anyway, next thing I know I’m on the porch and this guy is on top of me raising his knife. I rolled to the side to get out of the way and I guess I knocked the guy off balance but then he was on top of me again. Then somebody yelled and the guy just took off.”

  “OK, did you get a good look at the man with the knife?”

  “I’m never going to forget him. I see him every time I close my eyes. How the hell can I forget him?”

  Dave could see that Billings needed a break. He wanted to press on and get a description but now wasn’t the time.

  “Thanks Mr. Billings, you did very well. Now I’d like you to take a minute to collect your thoughts and think about the man with the knife. What was he wearing? Did he have any scars or tattoos? How tall was he? Was his hair short or long? That sort of thing. I’m going to send my deputy in here in a minute to get a description from you, but just relax until then. You did very well and we really appreciate your help.” Dave stood and patted the man on the shoulder. “Oh, and we’re going to need to check whatever clothes you were wearing last night.”

  “Could this guy still be close by?” asked the frightened man looking up at Dave.

  “Don’t worry. We have guards and police all over the camp but most likely he’s long gone by now. Just relax for now and my deputy will be here in a few minutes. I’m very sorry for your loss.” Billings nodded in response, looking like he would break down at any minute.

  Dave’s phone buzzed before he reached the door with a text message from his brother saying he had arrived. “Good,” Dave said out loud.

  “Did you get him?” asked a hopeful Billings.

  “Sorry, no sir, but we have called in the BCA. They’re here,” responded Dave to the man who desperately needed some good news. “Don’t worry, we’ll get him.”

  Dave made his way to the parking lot where Don was just getting out of his truck.

  “You look like shit,” he said as he faced Dave.

  “Thanks, but you’re looking in a mirror.”

  “I ain’t never been that ugly. So where are you here?”

  Dave filled him in on the interview with the lodge owner and Billings as they walked toward the now taped-off crime scene.

  “You think Allen or some of his goons that met me at the gate had anything to do with this?”

  “I’d like to but, no. The guy is a total asshole but I don’t think this is his doing. Not good for business and he is all about business.”

  “You have a real crowd at the entrance. Must be half a dozen news vans. Allens’ goons seem to be keeping them out.”

  “Christ!” Dave exclaimed as they walked toward the murder scene. “I’m going to be the only sheriff not to make it two weeks on the job.”

  “That could be the case if your friend Rosemary has anything to say.”

  Dave stopped, his brother taking two more steps before stopping and turning back. “What does that mean?”

  “She called the governor who called the Superintendant. I am now here in an official capacity.”

  “Well that’s just great! Maybe I’ll just go take a nap while you wrap things up.”

  Don raised his arms in surrender. “Take it easy brother. I had nothing to do with it, OK?”

  Dave was steaming, his face red, hands clenched at his side, feeling like he really needed to punch or kick someone or something in a bad way. He stared at his brother, slowly realizing he was r
ight. It wasn’t him. It was Rosemary Thiel, it was Cleve Allen, it was Danny, it was a killer who was always a step ahead of him, it was a job he should never have taken. He dropped his eyes to the ground, felt his body become so heavy he didn’t know if he could keep standing, and let out sigh of defeat. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  Don walked back and put his hand on Dave’s shoulder. “Just be cool, we’ll get him.”

  Dave looked over at him but wasn’t sure if he believed him.

  They stopped on the porch for a minute and bent down to look at what appeared to be drops of blood. “Probably from the knife as the guy was fighting with our witness,” said Dave as he stood.

  Both men put on gloves and shoe covers as they entered the cabin. “Jesus Dave! This guy is really making a mess!” said Don as he set down his bag and removed his camera.

  “I need to clean it up quick or I’m going to be out of a job if I’m not already.”

  “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing,” replied Don as he started snapping photos.

  The two men worked silently, Don taking photos while Dave took notes of what he saw. Their movements seemed to be choreographed, each staying out of the others way. It had been that way since they were young boys; almost knowing what the other was thinking and planning to do. It had worked great when they had to make up excuses when they were both in trouble with their parents but not so good when one was trying to pull something over on the other, or someone else. When Don showed up at Dave’s door at the end of each of his two marriages, they had never spoken a word about it. Both knew what had happened and why.

  Dave had kept a spare bedroom for his brother to crash in at each of his homes. Mostly it was for a single night after too much drink by Don, or if Don was working in the area and was too tired to head home. His stays after the divorces were longer – until he could again get set up with a place of his own.

  Dave could handle Don’s one-night stays, but the longer visits were a strain that nearly led to blows more than once. The brothers’ schedules never matched and when Don was up, he was loud. But that didn’t bother Dave as much as the mess. With Dave, shoes were taken off when you entered and dishes were in the dishwasher within minutes after use. Don viewed shoes as something you maybe took off when you slept and dishes as something you crammed into the dishwasher when the counter was too full to hold any more. Still, when one needed help, the other was there without question.

  When they finished they stood on the grass outside the cabin. “This dude is scary bad little brother but I’m pretty sure he’s not going to do anything about my rumblin’ tummy. What’s for breakfast?”

  Dave was suddenly very hungry. He couldn’t remember the last time he ate and was sure he smelled breakfast cooking in the lodge. “I need to wait for the ME and another deputy I called from Two Harbors to show and I’d like to talk to the guy who scared off the killer. Hang on a second and I’ll get you the list of the guides and staff. You can use the computer in my house to check them out and help yourself to breakfast. I’ll take the boat back to the landing and be back as soon as I can.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Dave and Danny were sitting at the bar in the lodge eating what Dave thought was the best breakfast he had ever had when a woman’s voice called to him from his right.

  “Sheriff, they told me I’d find you here. How’s breakfast?”

  Dave looked up to see Linda James approach. Her short-sleeve khaki shirt and matching pants left no doubt that there was a woman underneath. He suddenly became aware that the lodge had gone silent as every man in the place watched the ME cross the room.

  “Sheriff, have you met Deputy Carlson?”

  Dave had been aware that there was someone walking next to Linda but his attention was so drawn to her that he had not registered that the man was in uniform. “Howdy Deputy,” said Dave as he wiped his mouth with his napkin and put out his hand. “Thanks for coming so quickly. I’m sorry I haven’t made it to your office yet.”

  Mike Carlson was in his early thirties, just less than six feet. He had blond hair, a square jaw, and an inviting smile as well as a body that said he worked out regularly. Pretty much a Nordic-type god as far as Dave could see. “No problem sir. I hear you’ve been a little busy.”

  Dave felt himself sucking in his gut as he faced Carlson. He needed to get back in shape. He also felt something else – jealousy? He looked back to Linda who had eyebrows raised and a smirk on her face. Danny appeared at Trask’s side and shook hands with Carlson calling him by his first name as the two had obviously met.

  “Mike, I’d like to spend a little more time with you but right now we’ve got work to do. Danny, I’d like you and Mike to interview the guests and staff before they get out of here. Let them go as soon as you are done getting their statements and contact information. I’m going to take the doc over to the vic and then talk to the guest who scared off the killer.”

  As Dave and Linda left the lodge he could feel the eyes of the men following – and he was pretty sure they weren’t watching him. “Does that ever get to you?” he asked Linda as they moved down the path.

  “What’s that?”

  “Guys watching you like that.”

  “Should it?”

  Dave looked into brown eyes that were doing a good job of seeming to be serious. “I guess not,” he answered.

  “Correct. Now, if a room full of men that hadn’t seen a woman in a week was not looking at me, well, then that may bother me just a bit,” she answered with a smile.

  Dave laughed and felt a relief of pressure he hadn’t noticed he was carrying.

  “You have a nice laugh sheriff. You should try to do it more often.”

  “Maybe you could help me with that,” Dave answered.

  “Maybe I could,” was her coy reply as they reached the tape surrounding the cabin.

  Dave watched as the doctor entered the cabin and then reluctantly left. He took a look around the cabin now that daylight allowed, but found nothing of interest and made his way to the cabin next door. He knocked on the screen door and entered.

  Inside two men sat on a bench at the rectangular pine table in the kitchen area facing the door. Both men looked to be around fifty, with tired tan faces and bags under their eyes. Packed suitcases along with two tackle boxes and an assortment of rods were stacked across the room.

  “Hello, I’m Sheriff Trask. Which one of you gentlemen saw the attack?”

  The man on the left in a purple Minnesota Vikings t-shirt raised his hand. “That would be me, Ben Lester.”

  “And your name sir?” asked Dave as he pointed to the other man.

  “Sam Blanch,” he replied as Trask made a note.

  “Alright Mr. Lester. Tell me what happened last night.”

  Lester shifted uneasily on the bench as Dave sat down across from him. “OK. So we were just going to bed and I got up to shut off the light in the living room. The switch is right by the front door. I heard this crash and I pushed open the screen door to see what was going on. I could see next door through the screen that there were these two guys fighting on the porch so I yelled at them.”

  “What exactly did you say?”

  “I don’t know. I think it was just ‘Hey!’ I don’t really remember.”

  “That’s what you yelled Ben. I heard it from the bedroom,” interjected Blanch.

  Trask looked at Blanch and then back to Lester. “And what exactly did you see?

  “Well, this one guy was on top of the other and he had this big knife raised up in the air like he was going to stab the guy under him. And that’s when I yelled.”

  “Now when you say one man was on top of the other, what do you mean?”

  “The guy on the bottom was laying on his back and the other guy was straddling him on his knees.”

  “Yeah, that’s what you told me right after Ben,” chipped in Blanch.

  “Thanks Mr. Blanch, I appreciate your corroboration but I�
�d like you to hold you comments until I have finished with Mr. Lester,” admonished Dave causing Blanch to fold his arms and lean back with a frown. “Now, Mr. Lester, what did the man on top look like?”

  “It was really hard to see in the porch light through the screen. There were all kinds of shadows.”

  “Try to describe him the best you can.”

  “OK. He had black hair like I said - it was in a ponytail. His shirt was black and I think his pants were black too but they might have been a dark blue.”

  The description matched the one Billings had supplied to Danny. “Anything else?”

  “Yeah, there was a shine when he looked at me.”

  “A shine?”

  “Yeah, you know, like a reflection.”

  “Could it have been the knife?”

  “I guess, but I don’t think so. It came from his head.”

  “Hmm. Could it have been an earring or jewelry?”

  “I guess, I don’t know what else it could be.”

  Trask got nothing more of interest from the two men and returned to the murder scene. He knocked on the door and entered.

  “You find anything yet doc?” he asked as stood looking down at the ME crouched over the body.

  She stood, her body now inches from Dave. “That depends on what you’re talking about sheriff.”

  Dave felt his face flush. He could feel her warmth and couldn’t escape her eyes. It was a warm day that was suddenly much warmer in the cabin. Why did she do this to him and why wouldn’t she ever give him a straight answer? “With the body?” he finally got out.

  “This one is much more like the killings prior to the last one. The cut at the throat is deeper, and there are no other wounds present that I can see,” Linda replied as her face got serious.

  “The lack of other wounds could have been because the killer was surprised in the act,” commented Trask.