The Bakken Blade
Page 27
“We’re not fishing,” said Cord. Then he said to Wolsnoki, “We interviewed your mother-in-law.”
“I told you, she’s not credible. She’s delusional. Has been for years.”
“Since her daughter died,” said Zeke. “Your wife. We know.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” asked Wolsnoki.
“Well, I got to thinking about it,” said Zeke. “And we asked the Medical Examiner to compare the knife your mother had when she attacked Kimmy with the wounds on your wife. And on Casey Black. She had to do some forensic analysis, but fortunately the M.E.’s file was pretty detailed, very complete. It had photos and measurements of each cut and stab on both women.”
Henry Wolsnoki said nothing.
“And they were a match.”
“We found several interesting things,” said Cord. “It’s standard procedure to get a search warrant for a killer’s home. Or, in this case, two attempted killers’ home.”
Wolsnoki was quiet, listening.
“We found a phone, a burner, in the house,” said Zeke. “Your fingerprints were all over it. And it had one phone number in the caller list. Edward Reasons.”
“So without the fishing, let me ask again,” said Tillman Cord. “Who is Edward Reasons?”
“I didn’t make any call…” started Wolsnoki.
“Time to shut up, Henry,” said Douglas Brown.
* * *
“Edwards Reasons is a highway contractor,” said Cord. “He’s been involved in most of the new major road projects and Interstate repairs in North Dakota.”
“And he’s been paying off Henry Wolsnoki?” asked Zeke.
“He has. Henry had the responsibility for approving invoices at the Tribal Leaders’ level. Since Reasons’ company is already established in the State’s accounting system as a vendor, it was pretty easy for him to submit additional, fictitious invoices for consulting work, and having them approved by Henry,” said Cord. “Then he split the money with Henry. Not much to it.”
“How long has it been going on?” asked Zeke.
“Looks like maybe three years,” said Cord.
“So he started stealing money after his wife died. Was he trying to get even with the State for her death?” asked Zeke. “Or just trying to get what he thought was his share of the money?”
“Hard to tell,” said Cord. “I just think the whole family’s crazy.”
“They are. The old woman, Gramm, never recovered from her daughter’s drug addiction. That put her over the edge, and she killed her. And then she started killing Indian girls, as if she were still killing her daughter…”
“Indian girls who were selling drugs and sex, out of control and disrespecting the Nation,” said Zeke. “She saw herself as an instrument of the Tribes.”
“And when she couldn’t do it anymore, when she was too old, she passed it on to her grandson,” said Cord.
“Henry’s boy, Bobby. Yes,” said Zeke. “Like you said, the whole family’s crazy.”
* * *
“You certainly know how to treat a girl, Mr. Traynor,” said Tracy.
Zeke smiled to himself.
“Does this mean we’re going steady?” he asked.
“Hmm. That’s a pretty big commitment, sir. I’d have to think about that.”
They were alone on the porch of Zeke’s cottage in the Keys, feeling the heat of the afternoon sun on their shoulders and their faces. Zeke was sitting on the wide porch rail and Tracy sat on a chaise lounge nearby.
“This place is great,” she said.
“It’s a special place,” said Zeke.
Tracy looked up at him.
“It’s where we first started going steady,” he said, smiling.
“You look good in board shorts and nothing else,” said Tracy. “We could move down here and forget about law enforcement.”
“There are worse things,” said Zeke. “Could you see me as a fisherman?”
“Honestly? I could see you as a pirate,” said Tracy.
Zeke thought for a minute. “I owe you an apology,” he said.
“Oh?”
“I’ve been distracted. I got caught up emotionally in finding my parents’ murderer, and I’ve been ignoring you. I’m sorry.”
“You haven’t been ignoring me,” said Tracy. “I feel very much appreciated.”
“Well, I’ve been preoccupied. It took away from you and me.”
“Just for a little while,” said Tracy. “And it was necessary. It was important.”
“Yes, I remember. You were the one who encouraged me to pursue it.”
“You pretty much remember everything. It’s annoying, sometimes,” said Tracy with a smile in her voice.
“But we’re done with that,” said Zeke. “And now I can turn my undivided attention back to you.”
“Uh-oh,” said Tracy. “I’d better sleep with one eye open.”
Zeke thought for a moment. “Who said anything about sleep?”
# # #
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About the Author
Jeff Siebold loves a good mystery. A life long reader, he has embarked on a personal journey in creativity designed to contribute to the delight of mystery readers everywhere. He plans to continue writing as long as there are stories to be told!
Jeff and his wife Karin live on a barrier island in North Carolina, not far from the Cape Fear River (made famous by one of his favorite authors, John D. MacDonald). They have three college-aged children and two unruly dogs.