by Sioux Dallas
“No. I know you’d have no trouble. I guess you’ve met everyone.”
“Yes, and have even been taken out to see the new location. I approve even though it doesn’t mean anything. What would you actually expect of me? I’m not a detective; just a simple lil ole lawyer.”
“You’re not a simple anything. As far as your duties, we commonly have a question about legal status and clients need an attorney’s help more often than you would realize.”
Victoria walked toward Hannah. “First Mrs. Harkins was in and is seriously considering your offer. Next,” she held up today’s newspaper, “there’s a big article about another murder and stolen body parts. The mayor is getting angry because nothing has been done to apprehend the criminals. She declares it will ruin our tourist trade.”
Herb could hardly contain himself. “Thomas Chandler’s trial starts on January 2nd. I hope they jack up the jail and throw him under it, then let it fall heavily.” Richard laughed. “Don’t laugh. Wait until I tell you what this was about.”
Herb took Richard and Jim into his office and told them all about Brian and his babies. He also told them about the murders and the stolen body parts. The two men were upset and angry to hear about all of it.
Jim crossed his legs. “Are you telling me those poor babies, without a mother, have been deprived of their father all this time?
Herb nodded. “And I’m afraid to bring them back yet. There’s no telling who Chandler may have hired to do dirt. They’re not safe here. As far as we know he doesn’t know where they are.”
Richard and Jim both made the decision to wait until after the new year to apply for their respective license. Two days until Christmas and Hannah needed a lot of help in packing and notifying everyone of her new address.
Fortunately she would be allowed to keep the same telephone number.
Andrew Rutherford had invited everyone to his house for dinner. He had hired a known and respected caterer to supply the dinner with his suggestions as to what he wanted to serve. It was Christmas Eve and he had the house decorated like a fairy land.
As they drove through the big iron gates they saw a beautifully landscaped lawn. On the right side was a huge creche scene. There were life-sized animals and people. True to those ancient days, the manager was a trough built on the side of the stable, filled with hay. In it lay a doll wrapped in cloths just as Jesus might have been. The statue of Mary, dressed in blue and white, was seated on a bale of hay. Joseph, dressed in brown and carrying a staff, was standing looking down into the manger. Six life-sized angels were hanging across and over the top and a star about thirty-six inches in diameter was over all of this.
“My word,” Hannah exclaimed. “Daddy went all out this year. He must think he’s Daddy Warbucks. I shudder to think of what we’ll find indoors. Look at all those tress decorated at the front. Sheesh.”
They all laughed at her attitude. Herb, Victoria, Richard, Jim and Hannah crawled out of the van and hurried indoors. It was cooler than usual for South Carolina and the wind was not friendly.
Andrew met them at the door with a big kiss and hug for his daughter, a hug for Victoria and a back-slipping hand shake for the men. “Welcome. I’m so glad you’re here. Knowing you I was afraid you would get tied up with a case and forget about me.”
“Now, Daddy, you know I won’t do that.”
“You’ve done it before. Introduce me to your friends.”
“I’m sorry.” She introduced him to Richard and Jim and told that they were planning on being part of the staff.
The mayor, Alice Barker, with her husband, Raymond, was already there. She tottered over in a too tight dress and five inch heels to make her five feet two seem more imposing. “Hello, Hannah. What’s this about enlarging your staff? Where will you put everyone?”
“That’s part of my big surprise that will be announced in our new opening. I plan to have more detectives, an attorney, a bookkeeper and a receptionist. God has blessed us and we’re growing by leaps and bounds.”
“It’s too bad you can’t help catch the butchers leaving bodies all over the place. Maybe we need a new police chief,” she quickly walked to the door with a big smile when Chief Wingate and his wife walked in. She air kissed the chief and gave a brief hug to Emily Wingate. “How nice to see you and celebrate the Christmas season together,” she gushed.
Everyone looked at each other and rolled their eyes trying not to snicker.
Andrew’s three partners and their wives came next and behind them was the city attorney, Lucas Reader, and his wife.
Twenty-one people sat at Andrew’s table. He asked a blessing and the people, who were serving, brought in a huge turkey stuffed with sausage, nuts, celery and all good things. There was also dressing and the familiar vegetables including buttered sweet potatoes with marshmallows melted and browned on top. There were also gourmet vegetables and a choice of four desserts. Everyone was stuffed and feeling very good.
With her husband telling her this wasn’t the place to discuss it, the mayor stubbornly brought up the subject of the murders and stolen body parts.
Although Andrew did not serve alcoholic beverages, it was obvious that Mayor Barker had plenty. She kept taking something from her purse, which everyone surmised was probably a flask.
“I think I’ll fire the police chief and clear the garbage out. Then maybe we’ll get some results.”
Raymond thanked Andrew for a delicious dinner and told everyone how much he had enjoyed such delightful company. “My wife hasn’t been well and I need to get her home for an early night. Thank you again and a very merry Christmas to all. Good night.” He hurried her out with her protesting all the way that she hadn’t said what she wanted to.
People politely ignored what had happened and discussed the unusually cool weather, world news and what each was hoping for the new year. They all wanted Hannah to tell more of her plans, but she just smiled and changed the subject.
The evening was enjoyable and everyone left before midnight to get to a midnight service at their respective churches. Hannah’s church had everyone hold a lit candle in the dark as they sang sweet, old Christmas Carols. At midnight everyone wished each other a merry Christmas, the pastor closed with prayer, and all went home.
Hannah stayed quietly at home on Christmas and assumed all her staff was doing the same. She rested and contemplated her plans for the new office.
Jim and Richard had decided to apply for their license as soon as possible and be ready to move into the new office. Jim’s work would require more time as he had to attend classes for South Carolina laws before he could take the bar exam.
The more Mrs. Harkins talked to them the more ecstatic she became. Victoria’s classmate, Elizabeth Richardson, had been checked by Chief Wingate and passed with flying colors. Hannah had contacted her about a job as bookkeeper and she was thrilled. She could work and take evening classes if she so desired.
Hannah had suggested a day school near the new office and Elizabeth had quickly checked into it and found it to be just what she wanted. She could leave her little boy each morning on her way to work and Hannah felt it was all right for her to pick him up at three. At that time, if her work was caught up, she could call it a day or bring the boy back to the office with her for a short time. The child was delighted to be playing with other children and then be able to meet real detectives.
The Chief and the Sheriff warned everyone that the noises on New Year’s Eve would be possible to cover up crimes. They asked everyone to be on the alert and keep an eye and ear open for trouble. Thankfully there was no damage to Hannah’s office.
On January 2nd, Hannah placed a sign on her door giving her new address and the same phone number. A huge truck pulled up to load the furniture in the old office and take it to the new. Victoria had gone over the building and took down all the framed certificates, signs and the plaque. Herb had checked to be sure nothing was left behind, including the water holders.
Richard and Jim
came to help set up the new office. Mrs. Harkins had gotten there before any of them and was busily bossing workers as to where the furniture for the front was to be placed.
Another big van pulled up with some new furniture for the additional offices. Elizabeth had left her child with her mother for the day and joined them to set up her office.
The receptionist’s office was the same with burbling water and a public restroom. The first room on the left was Elizabeth’s with a desk, computer, filing cabinets, the complicated phone and her own person touches.
The first door on the right was to be a conference room. The next one on the right was Hannah’s. Across from her was Herb and next to him was Victoria. Jim and Richard had flipped a coin to see who would get which office. Richard won the toss to be next to Hannah and Jim was on his right.
At the end of the hall was a break room with refrigerator, stove, microwave, sink, cabinets, a long couch, two lounge chairs, a table and four chairs and a long mirror on the wall. To the left of the break room was a smaller room as a restroom for ladies and to the right was a smaller room for the gentlemen.
Everyone was pleased with their space and began to put personal touches to their own office. Everyone had their own computer.
Mrs. Harkins had already learned how to answer the very complicated phone and touch the correct button to direct the call. There was a special button on the phone that if it was pushed a siren would sound and bring help.
“Yikes!” Victoria yelped. “I’m going to have to take a class to know how to operate this fool phone.”
Richard just shook his head, and said solemnly, “The first time I tried using such a phone, without instruction, I failed abysmally.”
“Holy cow,” Victoria smacked her forehead, “now the man’s a walking dictionary. Hannah, do we have to live with this?”
Laughing everyone went about their business. Elizabeth had taken the books that Hannah provided and proceeded to set up her bookkeeping system. She checked with Victoria’s previous records. Mrs. Harkins was busy assimilating knowledge of the material in the files.
Hannah was pleased to discover that the moving men had brought the terra cotta pots with the trees from her front door. They were now in front of the new office.
For a couple of days they were left alone to get settled and get acquainted with the neighborhood. On the third day clients found them and new ones began to trickle in. They were as busy as ever. Jim was almost ready to take his bar exam for S.C. Richard had his local license and was ready to work.
January flew by with all of them too busy to notice how quickly the days went by. February came with slightly warmer weather and flowers peeping out of the ground.
Jim finally took his exam and passed with flying colors. Hannah was jubilant that now she could advertise they had an attorney as well as detectives.
During the third week of February, late one afternoon, Jim and Richard decided to take a stroll along the waterfront to discuss some business and get fresh air. Closing time they staggered in.
Richard had a black eye and a bloody nose. Jim had a cut bottom lip and a long cut on his left cheek. Their clothes looked as if they’d been rolling in the dirt. Richard’s shirt was torn and Jim had a hole in the right knee of his pants.
Mrs. Harkins hurried toward them with her hands held out as if to hold back something frightening. “Heavens to Betsy. What happened to you two? Were you mugged?”
“Worse than that,” Richard tried to chuckle. “You should see the other guy.”
By now Herb, Hannah, Victoria and Elizabeth had joined them giving exclamations of sympathy and anger.
Herb was angry. He forgot himself and started swearing. “WHO DID THIS?”
“Calm down,” Jim said, “and we’ll tell you.”
By now Mrs. Harkins and Elizabeth had wet clean cloths and gently wiped their faces and hands. They were seated on the couch in the break room. “Keep an ear open for someone coming in,” Hannah stated just as the front door burst open and Chief Wingate rushed in.
“Where are those imbeciles? They got away before I could talk to them.”
Hannah called for him to come back to the break room where he was followed by Lt. James McCormack.
“Well, we’ve got them under lock and key,” the lieutenant told them, “but I want to know how everything came about. What were you doing there and why did you get suspicious of them?”
“Excuse me,” Chief Wingate said facetiously. “I could have sworn I’m in command here.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I got carried away. I’m relieved to have the culprits at last and concerned that private citizens put themselves in danger to apprehend them.”
“We’re all concerned and proud of them,” Hannah put in. “I, too, would like to know what happened.”
Chapter Twenty
Richard and Jim looked at each other. “Go ahead and tell them,” Jim said. “My lip is hurting.”
“You’re going to need a couple of stitches in that. As soon as you give me a statement, I want you both taken to the hospital for a check up.” The chief stated. He took out a tape recorder. “Do you mind if I record this? I want to be sure everything is on the up and up.”
He clicked on the recording. “This is February 21, 2013. We’re in the office of the Lost Cause Detective Agency, owned by Hannah Rutherford. Present are Lt. James McCormack of the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina city Police, Hannah Rutherford, Mrs. Anna Mae Harkins, Elizabeth Richardson, Detective Victoria Stallard, Detective, Herbert Muller, Detective Richard Longbow, Attorney James Bridges and myself, Chief Ed Wingate of the Myrtle Beach city police force. Detective Richard Longbow and Attorney James Bridges were instrumental in apprehending two persons suspected of committing murder and illegally selling body parts. Detective Longbow, would you like to make a statement?”
“Yes, of course.” He cleared his throat. “To begin, I had a problem I wanted to discuss with Jim. We decided to take a walk to talk and pray about it. We each said a short prayer and were talking when we saw ahead of us what looked like some people fighting. We heard a woman’s voice yelling to get away and then she screamed. We saw the larger person raise his hand with what looked like something shiny in it. He looked as if he were going to stab it into the woman. The smaller person was trying to hold the woman and help. We both yelled and took off running toward them. The woman dropped, or was dropped, on the walk and the two people turned to run. We took off after them. I was on the left so I tackled the person on the left and Jim tackled the person on the right. Both of them fought us, but by then others had noticed the altercation and had called for police. They came and placed the two people in handcuffs. We all went back to see about the woman. She was all right but bruised and frightened.
She kept saying, “They were trying to kill me. They had knives.’ We discovered that very sharp scalpels had been dropped during the fight. When the police checked, they found igloos with ice in them near where the woman had been standing. They were arrested and taken to jail. We can only assume they are the ones who have been killing innocent people. The smaller person, dressed like a woman, is actually a man. They are what they called partners. The larger person is an intern and the other one just dressed as a nurse to help him and threw everyone off track.”
“Just as I thought,” Hannah interrupted, “an intern has a lot of college debts and he was probably using this means to pay off his debts.”
“Thank God you caught them,” Victoria breathed a sigh of relief. “Can you imagine what kind of doctor he would have made?”
Everyone was sitting and thinking when Lt. McCormack spoke. “What you guys did was admirable. Not many people would have jumped in when there were weapons involved. In fact, some might have yelled a them, but I doubt if many would have tried to apprehend them.”
Jim tried to smile through swelling and painful mouth. “Who thought of weapons? I just saw two people jumping on one and felt the odds were uneven. I don’t like bullies. Neither do I lik
e to think I might be a coward.” He stopped and placed a wet cloth to his mouth while looking miserable.
“I’m escorting you two to the hospital,” Chief Wingate declared standing.
“I’ll go with them,” Hannah stated.
“No,” Herb butted in, “you stay here. I’ll go with them. It will be less embarrassing to take off their clothes in front of me than in front of you,”
“Why will they need to take off their clothes?” Elizabeth asked. “It’s their faces that are injured.”
“They’ll need to be checked all over for bruises and possible cracked bones.”
“Oh,” she said meekly.
“Well,” Mrs. Harkins jumped up, “now I’m not afraid to walk home alone. We all need to get some rest and be prepared for a full, busy day tomorrow. The press will be over us like ants and media of all kind will be around. There’ll also be a lot of nosey people just wanting to be near the so called action.” She laughed. “I’m off. Good night everyone. Take good care of our boys.” She shook her finger at the Chief. He laughed, put on his hat and followed out after the lieutenant.
Hannah got ready for bed saying a prayer of thanks for the care of Jim and Richard. She smiled thinking that the mayor would be preening in front of all cameras as if she had done the good deed. It would be something to hear her comments.
Two days later Jim and Richard were back at work with stitches, injections and Richard with a cracked rib. They were just grinning at leaving by the back door and avoiding the media. Newspapers and television news continued with the news telling how men who worked at the Lost Cause Detective Agency were the heroes of the hour. Hannah was sorry her friends had gotten hurt, but was thrilled at the great publicity her office was getting.
She was trying to work on a case file when Mrs. Harkins buzzed her phone. “Hannah, I think you’ll want to take this call.” She had done an admirable job of screening calls.
