Murder in the Dell

by Bert Entwistle

  “That and any other stories of bodies you might know about.”

  “The gangster stories are all I remember. I think they liked to reminisce about the old days when they got together.”

  “Vince, put him back in the cell.”

  “That was pretty much a waste of time,” said Austin.

  Deacon shrugged, “Maybe, but every little piece of information could be helpful somewhere down the line. Angie, hold off writing up the charges on the weed. The ATF will want to have the guns though.”

  “Will do. Curt just called, he’ll be here pretty soon with the camera.”

  “Good. The ATF guys should be rolling in any time now, the sooner we get rid of this guy the better.”

  “So I don’t guess you’ll be needing me now?” said Hines, who had been watching the interrogation from the back of the room.

  “Jack, I almost forgot you were here,” said Deacon. “I saved the county the trouble of putting him on trial.”

  “Bayfield County appreciates your dedication and hard work.”

  “So that means you’re buying lunch?”

  “Not a chance.”

  Chapter 18

  Austin and Deacon scrolled through the photos from the trail camera. “Nothing exciting here,” said Austin, “unless you count the dozen or so times that a big black Chevy Suburban drove by the gate.”

  “Yeah, those FBI boys don’t exactly travel incognito. But, if they are still chasing their tails trying to get access to the farm, it keeps them away from us. Vince, anything new on those other two names on the list?”

  “I found both of them in the system for drugs, assault and theft, all the regular stuff. No outstanding warrants on either one though. I found an address for the first one, some guy named Brooks, Carl Brooks. The second one, Monroe Berry, is in the wind, but I’ll catch up to him.”

  “Then what?” asked Deacon.

  “Then I plan on camping on their asses until I dig something up on them that will put them away.”

  “Sounds good, just keep me posted.”

  “Angie, I’m off to see my new BFF, Doctor Baker.”

  “Damn, the next thing you know you two will be taking in dinner and a movie.”

  “Now, now, your jealousy is showing.”

  “Well, if you prefer to spend your time with him instead of me . . .”

  “Don’t worry my love, when I get home tonight you will have my undivided attention, you can even have your way with me.”

  “Oh, lucky me.”

  Deacon walked into the darkened lab and looked for Baker. The light from his antique brass desk lamp showed a figure hunched over at his desk. “Doctor Baker, am I interrupting something important?”

  Baker, startled by the intrusion, looked up from the desk. “Dammit Davis, you scared the crap out of me. Next time call before you come.” Sliding his papers and binders into the drawer, he locked it and motioned for him to sit down.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I really don’t have any formal business, Doctor. I just came over to see how you’re doing.”

  “Really? You came all the way over here just to check on me? Why am I suspicious of that?”

  “Doctor, whether you believe it or not, I am concerned about you. Have you made any decisions about your future?”

  “So you really came over here to try and get me to retire?”

  “In part. Are you considering it?”

  Baker nodded. “Yes, Davis, I have given it a lot of thought and I think the time is getting close.”

  “Doctor, no disrespect meant here, but it’s already time. I think you know that too.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  “If you don’t, I’ll have to go to the district attorney and tell him what I know about your health issues. The last thing I want to do is to make this public, but the county can’t have any reason to doubt your past work.”

  Baker slumped back in his chair and took off his glasses. “You’re right, and I do know it. It’s just that it’s not easy to give up a job that you’ve been doing for so long.”

  “You still have the funeral business to run, all you will lose is the coroner work.”

  “Okay Davis. I will write up a resignation and give it to the board in a day or two.”

  “Thank you Doctor Baker, this is the right thing to do.”

  Flipping the burgers, Deacon added cheese and closed the lid. Amy and Angie sat back and talked about family while Jason prepared the salad. “So how’s the serial case coming Deacon, you think you’re getting close to finding this guy?”

  “Actually, I think we’re getting close, but you know that technically this is the FBI’s case and our department has no bearing on it.”

  “I remember. No new bodies recently?”

  “No, thankfully, and I hope it stays that way.”

  “You really think it will?” asked Amy.

  Deacon shook his head. “Only if the killer dies.”

  “Maybe he’ll just retire.”

  “I guess you never know, anything’s possible.”

  After dinner the men made plans for their next fishing trip and the girls decided to go see their family at the dairy farm tomorrow. “Deacon, want to ride along tomorrow? We’re going out to the dairy for a couple of hours.”

  “I’ll pass thank you, I have work to do.”

  “On Sunday? You sure are a dedicated employee.”

  “That’s why I get the big bucks.”

  “I keep forgetting that,” said Angie. “Think of all the fresh milk you will be missing.”

  “I don’t like milk and cows are for barbequing.” Finishing the last of his beer, Deacon headed for the bedroom. “You coming woman?”

  “Woman? You call me woman and now you want me to get in bed with you? You’re going to have work a little harder at this relationship if you want me in your bed tonight.”

  “Sorry, I lost my mind for a minute. What can I do to get you in bed with me tonight?”

  “You can start by giving me a sincere apology then stop talking and giving me another foot rub.”

  “Please accept my most sincere apology for such a poor choice of words. I will now prepare to give you the best foot rub you have ever had, and I will stop talking.”

  Lying back in the bed she put one foot in his lap, “well, get started.”

  Picking up her foot he stared at her.

  “What’s the holdup Davis?”

  “Aren’t you even gonna get naked?”

  “Davis!”

  Felix Barnhart walked through the doorway and straight to Deacon’s desk. “Take a hike with me Davis.”

  “Morning Felix. Nice to see that you’re in such a good mood today. Why would I want to walk somewhere with you? I get plenty of exercise as it is.”

  “Drones Davis, I want to talk about drones.”

  “Drones? Okay, you got my interest, let’s walk.”

  “What do you know about drones?”

  He shrugged. “I know what they are. I’ve seen some cool pictures taken from them, but beyond that — absolutely nothing.”

  “I wanted to talk about this outside because I don’t want to take a chance of anyone overhearing anything.”

  “Okay.”

  “We sent a drone over the Crawford property several times a day for the last week. It was all pretty boring until yesterday morning. We caught them using a backhoe to dig a hole in the old field out back. Then they dumped an old tarp and a couple of large trash bags into the hole and filled it in. Any thoughts?”

  “Well, the field out back is an old potato field that they haven’t used for years. I don’t know what they might be burying there, maybe it’s just farm trash?”

  “I doubt that. These two are involved in something bad, and I’m going to prove it.”

  “So why are you telling me about this? You told me repeatedly to stay away from it, that it’s your jurisdiction.”

  “Goddamnit, I’m trying to solve a difficult case. I
just want to know more about these people and their history on that farm, you should be happy we’re here working on this.”

  “Okay Felix, the best source of history around here is Henrietta Baumann, the librarian. She knows everything that ever happened in Bayfield County for the last hundred years, she may be able to help you with that.”

  Barnhart made a note in his book to contact her. “Anything else?”

  “Have you read any of Crawford’s mystery stories? We’ve read quite a few and decided that he always writes about this area and that in every short story it’s a single victim and every one of them dies in a different manner.”

  Felix thought about this for a few minutes while they walked. “Now that would be quite a coincidence, wouldn’t it?”

  “He’s also got five mystery novels in print, but we haven’t read them yet. Come by and get them if you want.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  “Have you met Sinclair and Sarah before?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t want to take the risk of spooking them.”

  “I can’t imagine them running, the family has been on that property for over a hundred years.”

  “That may be so, but I’d hate to take that chance. I gotta go.”

  Deacon watched as he got into his car and drove off, “you’re welcome.”

  “Vince, how you coming with those other two names?”

  “Nothing exciting so far Boss. They are definitely dirt bags with a past, but without any current warrants. The first guy, the wife beater, he’s divorced and already moved on. The second guy, there’s no sign of him anywhere. You want me to keep working him?”

  “Nah, just keep him on the back burner for now, he’ll probably turn up one of these days,” said Deacon. “I need you to call Northway Waste and Recycle and find out if the Crawford’s have their trash picked up at the farm.”

  “I’ll call right now.”

  “Remember to keep it low key,” said Deacon.

  “I think it might be better to do it in person . . .”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Austin, what do you have going on right now?”

  “Two high school boys fighting in the gym and a homeless panhandler bothering people. All I need now is Missus O’Leary’s cow to kick over a lantern and my week will be complete.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Well, there was a fender bender in front of the library Tuesday morning.”

  “Not too much excitement for you is it? Cause I can have Vince help you out.”

  “No offense to Vince, but I think I can probably handle it.”

  “Austin, in between all those action calls, I need an extremely covert investigation on this local guy,” said Deacon, handing him a folded piece of paper. “This is only between the two of us for now. You might want to do this at home on your own computer, where you won’t be disturbed.”

  Austin unfolded the paper and looked at the business name. “Seriously?”

  “Serious as those dead girls.”

  He nodded his head and handed the paper back to Deacon. “Got it. I’ll start tonight.”

  Deacon motioned to have a seat. “Curt, how you feeling today?”

  “Better than I have in a long time, Deacon.”

  He nodded. “I got a couple things for you.”

  “I’m ready boss, just point the way.”

  “I need you to stake out a place for me, maybe for a couple of days, you all right with that?”

  “I can do it.”

  “Think you can take pictures of everything that happens there?”

  “I’m a pretty good photographer Deacon, but I sold my equipment a year ago.”

  “I have enough for the job, come by my place tonight and I’ll get you set up.”

  “What time?”

  “7:00, can you make that?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “What’s that all about?” asked Angie.

  “Just working on a couple of small town sheriff hunches is all.”

  “Curt’s coming to our place tonight?”

  “Yeah, to pick up a camera, but also as a test. I want to be sure that if I really need him for something he’ll be there.”

  “You really thinking of putting him on the force again? You have a lot more faith in him than I do. You do remember he attacked you after the festival don’t you?”

  “He attacked me with a belly full of beer, without the beer he’s a pretty sharp guy.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  “I’m on my way to see Doctor Baker, call me if you need anything.”

  “Again? You two are pretty tight nowadays, is this something I should be suspicious about?”

  “No, but maybe if he was thirty-years younger . . .”

  Baker was in his office, reading and making notes. Deacon watched him from the doorway. The old man was lost in his work and didn’t notice him. When he finished what he was doing, he turned and put the paperwork in a file cabinet. Deacon took that moment to knock.

  “Who the hell is it?” said Baker, obviously startled.

  “It’s just me,” said Deacon.

  “No goddamnit, I haven’t turned in my resignation yet. That’s why you’re here right?”

  “Can we have a talk please?”

  “Fine, have a seat,” said Baker.

  Looking at the collection of books and other items on the shelves while he waited, he was surprised to see so many classic mystery novels. Many of them appeared to be very old volumes, possibly first editions. On another shelf were dozens of modern crime books of stories about people like Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer.

  “Are you a fan of true crime writing, Davis?” asked Baker, sitting down behind the desk.

  “Not too much, I have enough true crime around here to last me. I read about the West and early explorers, those kinds of things.”

  “I always like to read the crime stories to see how the criminals get away with it,” said Baker.

  “They get caught in the end though. Bundy, BTK, the Green River Killer, the Night Stalker, Son of Sam, the Boston Strangler, they all got caught, didn’t they? Their ego is what always trips them up in the end.”

  “They did, but Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer were never caught. But, I suspect that you’re here to talk about something besides famous serial killers?”

  “You know why I’m here. I’m still waiting to hear that you turned in your retirement notice. I haven’t said anything to anyone about this yet, but if I have to, I’ll go the board of supervisors next meeting and explain everything to them.”

  Baker slumped in the chair and slowly rocked back and forth. Reaching in his pocket he pulled out his keys and unlocked a drawer. Pulling out a manila envelope, he slid it across the desk. “There goddamnit — take it. Give it to the board. My last day as Bayfield County Medical Examiner will be the 30th.”

  Pulling the letter out of the envelope, he read it and looked at Baker. “Doctor, I know this can’t be easy, but it’s the right thing to do. This way you get your pension and all your benefits. Shoot, you’ll probably get a gold watch or something,” said Deacon, trying to lighten the moment.

  Baker shook his head, “It may be right but that doesn’t make it easy. A lifetime of work and who really cares? Nobody. Not one single person will remember your name or what good work you did the day after you’re gone. But Jack the Ripper? He’s still a household name after more than a hundred years. You can leave now, I have work to finish.”

  “So, how did your date with Doctor Death go?” asked Angie, dropping down on the couch next to him.

  “You really want to talk about this? What about not talking work at home?”

  “Deacon, I just want to know what’s bothering you.”

  “Fine, but it’s almost kind of sad.”

  “Sad? That’s definitely not the word I thought you would use.”

  “Doctor Baker gave me his letter of resignation and asked me to give it to the board.
He’s really down about having to give up the coroner’s job.”

  “He still has the mortuary business, right? He should have plenty to keep him busy. I sure wouldn’t feel sorry for that grouchy old bastard.”

  “I don’t feel sorry for the man, I’m just trying to understand him better, that’s all.”

  “If he’s retiring from the coroner’s job, you won’t have to deal with him anymore. You can just forget him and move on.”

  “Speaking of moving on,” said Deacon, “let’s move to the deck and fire up the grill, I need a steak and a beer.”

  Finishing up his steak, he set the plate on the table and got them both a fresh beer. “Do you know who Jack the Ripper is?”

  “Of course, everybody knows who he is. He killed all those women in London in the 1800’s. Why?”

  “What about the Night Stalker and Son of Sam. You know who they are?”

  “More serial killers, what about them?”

  “Nothing, it’s not important anyway.”

  “Davis, you are getting really weird in your old age.”

  “Maybe it’s time for me to retire too.”

  “Yeah right. What would you do all day, go fishing?”

  “I could stay home and make mad passionate love to you every day all day.”

  “You better keep your day job, you wouldn’t last two hours.”

  Watching the sunset from the deck, he reached over and touched her arm. “Would you want to live your life alone?”

  “Of course not. I think ninety-nine percent of the population would chose to have a partner. Deacon, what’s going on here, you’re starting to scare me. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, no health problems or anything else. Doctor Baker just got me thinking. I just wonder what it must be like for him to have lived his whole life alone.”

  “Yeah, alone for fifty-years in a house full of dead bodies, that’s quite an interesting life for sure.”

  Chapter 19

  Deacon and Curt walked to the boat shed. “This is a really nice spot Deacon, you been fishing much this year?”

  “A little, but not near as much as I’d like too.”

  “I suppose that this serial killer thing must take most of your time.”