BLOOD RIVER (A Trask Brothers Murder Mystery)

by C. E. Nelson

  Dave laughed and then cringed as he reached for his throat.

  “You OK?” asked Linda, serious concern in her voice.

  “Yeah, I just got to remember not to laugh for a while,” he replied in a quiet tone as he held his throat. “I heard you called earlier. Was it business or social?” Dave asked with a hopeful tone.

  “Business for sure, maybe social if you’re up to it. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that we got the autopsy report back on the man killed at his cabin.”

  “Mike Eaves.”

  “Yes. Well anyway, there was one interesting thing. Apparently the killer hit one of Mr. Eaves bones when he was stabbing him and broke off the tip of his knife. We were able to recover the tip.”

  Dave flashed back to last night as he subconsciously reached to his throat. There had been no broken tip on Bobby’s knife. He was sure of that. But he knew he had seen a big knife with a broken tip not long ago. Where was it? “Shit!”

  “Dave?”

  “Um, sorry. Listen I got to go. Will call you back as soon as I can.”

  “Are you OK?”

  “I hope so,” he replied and hung up. He immediately called Station 30. Kyle answered.

  “Hey sheriff. Good to hear your voice. How you feeling?”

  Dave ignored his question. “Where are Tony and Danny?”

  “Um, they’re getting the word out to the camps and cabin owners.”

  “OK, but do you know specifically where they are?” asked Trask impatiently.

  “Well, Tony was going north, to Big Pine and Rush. Danny stopped back about an hour ago and then he was headed to Basswood.”

  “OK, tell Danny to call me immediately if you hear from him.”

  “Yes sir,” answered Bauman. Trask hung up and called Meline’s cell number. It immediately went to voicemail. He left a message telling Danny to call him. He quickly pressed his brother’s number.

  “You want another hug?”

  “Don, I need you to run a check on Doug Speer. Anything you can find, especially his financial records. Do it from your truck. You need to hurry.”

  His brother pulled over to make a call to Minneapolis without any questions, promising to call back as soon as he heard.

  Dave paced on the deck looking out at the lake that was calm except for the occasional ripple. He was no longer feeling tired. Within minutes his phone rang. “Yeah?”

  “This dude has been making some serious deposits in his brokerage account. Trappers must be doing really well in your area.”

  “How well?”

  “We’re talking hundreds of thousands. And its been going on a while.”

  “Don, can you get back here? I need you ASAP.”

  Within minutes Don roared into the yard and the men were in Dave’s boat heading across the lake. Dave explained how he had noticed the broken tip on Doug Speer’s knife the day after Mike Eaves death. He also got hold of Ralph Billings who confirmed that the knife held by the man that attacked him did not have a broken tip that he remembered. Eaves killer was someone Eaves knew – and he knew Speer.

  “How should we handle this?” asked Don as Dave pushed the boat to full throttle.

  “We don’t know if Speer will be there or if Danny has seen him yet. If Speer is there, and we can reach him before Danny, then we are there to tell him the good news of the killer being caught. If Danny has already been there and gone, we can tell him we weren’t sure who was to tell him the news and just wanted to be sure he heard it. If Danny is still there, well, then the story is that he’s needed at work for a meeting.”

  Danny had no idea he was potentially walking into the arms of a killer. There was no reason for Speer to panic at a visit from Meline but Dave had to be sure Danny was safe nonetheless. And he needed to get Speer into custody.

  Speer lived on a point southeast of Dave, a mile from the mouth of the Seagull River. The point ran west out about two miles into the main lake and then cut sharply back to the east. Speer’s cabin was the only one on the north side of the point; similarly, Mike Eaves’ place was the only cabin on the south-facing side of the point, although not as far to the east. As they approached Speer’s dock, they could see Danny’s boat tied to the far side and the two men on the sand beach in front. It looked as if both were standing watching them approach, which they were, except Speer had a knife at the deputy’s throat.

  “Shit,” muttered Dave as he cut the motor and the boat slid to a slow stop at the end of the dock.

  “Morning sheriff,” said a smiling Speer. “What brings you out this way?”

  The brothers tied off the boat and stepped on the dock.

  “Before you all go any further I’d greatly appreciate it if you’d drop your weapons in the water.”

  The Trasks looked at each other and then did as Speer asked. As they moved down the dock toward Speer they could see that Danny’s hands were tied behind his back and what Dave guessed was Danny’s gun stuffed in the waist of Speer’s pants.

  “You OK Danny?” asked Dave.

  “Yes sir,” responded his frightened deputy.

  Dave looked to Speer. “Let him go Speer. This is over!”

  Speer laughed. “Over? Well, I just don’t think so,” he responded laughing again. “But I suppose I should let him go.”

  To the Trasks’ surprise, Speer removed his knife from Danny’s neck and sliced the rope binding the deputy’s wrists. Speer returned his knife to its sheath and pulled out the gun.

  “Hands in the air please. Danny, if you would please go search our guests?”

  Meline smiled and ordered the brothers to spread their legs. The men complied as he patted them down, revealing no weapons.

  “What the hell is going on Danny?” asked Dave as Meline finished his search.

  “Sorry sheriff. Just following orders like you told me,” he replied with a smile and then returned to stand by Speer.

  “Excellent!” said Speer with a grin. “Now if you gentlemen would just keep your hands in the air and follow Danny we’d like to give you a little tour.”

  “Where we going boss?” asked Meline.

  “To the hut, my boy.”

  Danny laughed and began walking across the sand towards Speer’s cabin. It was a simple single-story affair. Dave guessed it was probably laid out much the way Mike Eaves’ cabin was, without the addition. It had split-log siding, stained barn red, with white-framed windows and door. Speer kept a small yard mowed around the structure. Dave had passed by the cabin before but never stopped. Dave and Don followed side by side with Speer behind. They did not go to the front door of the cabin but, instead, Danny led the group through the yard on the west side of the cabin to a path that had been cut through the woods. As they passed Dave saw a satellite dish and what looked like a small cell tower in the yard behind the cabin.

  “How long have you been in on this Danny?”

  Meline turned back to Dave and smiled. “Ever since the election. Mr. Speer said he felt bad I didn’t get the job and asked me if I’d like to make a little extra money.”

  “You can still get out of this Danny.”

  Danny laughed. “Oh, I don’t think so. I’ve already made more than you’ll make in the next two years and there’s more to come. And now I’m sure to get your job too!”

  The men were forced to go singe file as they started down the trail; Don behind Meline. Dave shook his head in disgust. “Why did you kill him Speer?” he shouted, now watching his step so as not to trip over a root or rock.

  “I assume you are referring to Mr. Eaves? Well, you see, he just wasn’t a very friendly neighbor.” Speer chuckled.

  “What the hell does that mean?” shouted Don.

  “My, such language,” replied Speer in a disapproving tone as they reached a fork in the trail.

  “To the right Danny!” shouted Speer, waving his gun in that direction.

  Danny stopped and looked back. “I thought it was to the left?”

  “I made a new trail,” repli
ed Speer. “This way is easier.”

  Danny looked to the left one more time and then began moving down the trail to the right. The woods were thick now and with little breeze the flies were buzzing. Dave stopped to slap a bug on his ear but Speer pushed the gun barrel roughly in his back. Dave began to turn his head to give Speer a look that said he had better not do that again when he stopped short, grimacing in pain as he felt something under the bandage on his neck tear. He reached for his neck but Speer yelled at him to keep his hands high.

  “No, no. Keep moving. Well, as I was saying, my buddy Mike just refused to sell his property to me. I offered him far more than it was worth but he still refused. I really had no choice.”

  Don stumbled on the stump of a recently cut tree, Dave grabbing him by the arm before he fell.

  “Hands up gentlemen, or I’m going to be forced to penalize you for disobeying orders, and my penalties are quite severe. Now move!”

  The density of the growth surrounding them increased as they moved up a small incline, providing occasional shade, but making any attempt at a dash through the woods impossible. “You killed him just because he wouldn’t sell? I don’t buy it,” stated Dave. “There’s more to it.” Dave was warm now; sweat trickling down the side of his head. He felt light-headed, tired, and he could feel something warm flowing down his neck to his shoulder.

  Danny laughed at Dave’s comment but kept moving.

  “Now Danny, we mustn’t make fun of our guests,” admonished Speer before redirecting his comments to Dave. “That is very good sheriff. You see, I run a small import – export business that requires planes to land on the lake. They have had to land behind my point since you decided to build on the other side of the lake, so I guess in a way, it’s really your fault that I had to kill him. Anyway, Mike had been asking questions about the planes because they had been forced to go by his place when he was there a few times and, well, I just couldn’t have him asking questions. The killings at the camps were an excellent opportunity for me to take care of the problem.”

  The men continued on in silence for a few moments, their breathing getting heavier. All of the growth and recently cut branches on the path made it almost impossible to see roots, rocks, and small stumps, leading the brothers to stumble several times more as they moved deeper into the woods.

  “What kind of business are we talking about Speer?” growled Don.

  “Why don’t we go over that when we get to the warehouse?” he replied.

  Danny stopped and wiped his brow with the back of his hand. The day was turning hot and the humidity in the damp woods was high. “How much further?” he asked Speer.

  “Do you see a big stump up ahead?” asked Speer.

  Danny turned and looked. “Yeah?”

  “Good. Stay to the left of the stump and the trail will turn up the ridge. Not much further.”

  Danny trudged on to the stump, staying to the left as instructed, looking up the ridge ahead. Its possible Meline may have seen the branches and moss covering the pit in the middle of the trail ahead of him if he’d kept his eyes on the ground, but it wasn’t likely. Speer was an expert trapper and knew how to camouflage his work. Walking three steps past the stump, he disappeared in front of the brothers. Don saw Meline disappear and stopped short, his arms going out from his side to stop his brother. The brothers inched forward before dropping to their knees, clearing away the remaining loose moss and branches that still hung over the edge of the pit. The bottom of the pit was covered with sharp pointed spears, two protruding from the back of Danny who was laying face down below.

  “You bastard!” shouted Don as he sprang to his feet, turning to Speer.

  “Oh my! I must have forgotten completely all about that. I suggest you gentlemen be careful the rest of the way. I am getting so forgetful in my old age,” he added with a sly smile.

  Dave was still on his knees, struggling to stand, the blood from his wound spreading across the front of his shirt. Don turned back and helped him up. The men slowly made their way around the edge of the pit and moved on at as slow a pace as Speer would allow, Don leading now and toeing the ground looking for any signs of disturbed earth, although he doubted that he would ever see the next pit if Speer didn’t want him to. Another hundred yards along and the path curved to the left before breaking out into a small clearing. Straight ahead was a granite wall rising to twenty feet at its peak, in the center a split.

  “Let’s move inside gentlemen. Straight ahead,” prodded Speer. “Keep those hands high please.”

  The men crossed the clearing and then turned sideways, bowing their heads as they shuffled through the fissure. After ten feet the crevice opened into a circular area roughly thirty feet across. The floor was clay and the roof was open, granite walls all around. In the middle of the cave was a pit much like the one that had claimed the life of Danny, only this one wasn’t covered. Dave was looking down in the pit when Don poked him in the side and pointed to the wall behind the pit. What looked like bricks wrapped in blue plastic lined the wall, stacked nearly to the ceiling. Dave estimated easily over a hundred.

  “Hands up gentlemen,” said Speer as he again poked Dave in the back nearly causing him to lose his balance and fall into the pit. Don reached out quickly to grab Dave’s arm and steady him.

  “Careful,” Speer chuckled. “Anyway, I assume that you can guess what that is along the wall?”

  “Heroin,” replied Don.

  “Very good! My, you BCA cops are smart! Well, anyway, you can see now how it would be awkward to have a snoopy neighbor around my business I assume?”

  “So how did you find out we knew about you?” inquired Dave as his stare returned to the pit.

  “Well, I didn’t exactly, but when Danny came out here today he mentioned that the coroner had called the office with the information about a broken knife tip, and well, I just assumed that you would eventually figure things out. After all, we didn’t vote you in just to be another dumb local,” Speer snickered.

  The twins heard him but they were no longer listening. Lined up neatly next to the drugs were several human skulls.

  “And who are they?” asked Dave nodding in the skulls direction.

  “Well, you heard about the missing engineers and prospectors? Congratulations! You just found them!” he giggled.

  Don shook his head. It didn’t take much to figure out that Speer couldn’t risk having mining companies around when he was trying to move shipments in and out. The men turned to face Speer. “So, we can assume you are the ghost?”

  “My, nothing escapes you. You must definitely be the smart brother.”

  Dave just shook his head and muttered, “You bastard!”

  “I told you I don’t like that language!” shouted Speer pointing his gun at Dave and firing at his left thigh.

  Pain exploded in Dave’s leg as it went out from under him. Dave fell forward, his legs sliding out over the edge of the pit, pulling him down. He clawed at the floor but continued to slide down, his fingers leaving a trail in the damp grey clay. He slowed his decent but continued to lose ground; his shoulders now even with the floor, the spears waiting directly below. As he hung over the edge he kicked at the wall with his good leg, his toe getting grip on a small boulder that was protruding from the wall, halting his decent momentarily.

  As Dave felt the grip on his right hand begin to give way, Don fell to his knees and grabbed Dave’s wrist. Don looked into his brother’s eyes with fear, but Dave was smiling. In the background Speer let loose a wild laugh. Don felt himself losing his grip on his brother’s sweaty arm.

  “On the count of two I want you to pull me up as fast as you can,” Dave whispered.

  Don gave a barely perceptible nod, reaching down to get a grip below Dave’s elbow.

  “One,” Dave paused. “Two!” he shouted.

  Dave pushed up with his foot as Don pulled his brother up to him so that they were face-to-face. Dave reached around behind him with his free arm, pulling a gun
from the back of his pants, and shot over Don’s shoulder as Don fell backwards, Dave on top of him. Dave watched as Speer looked in disbelief at the blood spreading in the center of his shirt before dropping to the floor - and then everything went black.

  Chapter Forty-two

  Dave could here distant voices like when he was a kid waking up to the sounds of his parents in the kitchen upstairs. He tried to move his hands to rub the sleep out of his eyes but his arms were heavy and he could barely lift them. The voices were suddenly louder, closer. He opened his eyes to see Linda looking down at him, Don soon appearing behind her.

  “I thought I was in heaven for a minute until I saw Don. I know he’ll never make it.” His throat was dry and raw and the words came out in a raspy tone.

  Linda grabbed his hand and laughed, before tears started to run down her cheeks.

  “Sorry,” said Dave, “Didn’t mean to make you cry.”

  Linda squeezed his hand hard, wiping the tears from her eyes with the other. “You damn well better be sorry!” she replied in mock anger. “It looks like I wasted a lot of time preparing my examination room for nothing.”

  Dave laughed, sorry he did with the pain it caused, and he could hear Don do the same.

  “How long have I been out?”

  “Three days,” Linda answered. “The bullet in your leg found an artery. We weren’t sure you were going to make it for a while.” Tears started to flow again. She released her grip and moved away to blow her nose and wipe her eyes.

  Dave looked to his brother. “What happened Don?”

  “What happened was you passed out on top of me after you shot Speer. I rolled you off, tied your leg off with my belt, and was able to wake you up. You leaned on me and made it almost back to the boat before you passed out again. I hauled you in the boat and got you back to the landing where Clark met us and we hauled ass to Duluth. You really need to lose some weight by the way.”

  “I guess I owe you another beer?”

  “Well, you did get Speer, so we’ll call it even. By the way, where the hell did that gun come from? My ears are still ringing.”